UT Dallas > Institutional Risk & Safety > Occupational Health & Safety > Custodial Safety

Custodial Safety

Custodians, janitors, housekeepers—they go by many names, but they are instrumental in keeping our campus safe and clean. As they work to keep other employees and visitors safe, they often encounter hazards that increase their risk of injuries from slips/falls, material handling, and chemical exposures.

For the safety of custodians who often handle potentially hazardous materials and work in sensitive areas, follow these guidelines to avoid injuries and illnesses.

General Safety Guidelines

Do not obstruct exit pathways, such as hallways or stairs.
Use caution when mopping floors. Use signage to mark wet/slippery floors. Avoid upper torso twisting motions.
Do not use chemicals that you have not been properly trained to use.
Do not mix cleaning solvents.
Read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to understand the cleaning chemicals being used. UTD maintains an SDS database through BioRAFT [requires NetID].
Do not store flammable or combustible materials near boilers or other heat sources.
Do not store items in fire hose cabinets, fire extinguisher cabinets, or in stairwells.
Use care and proper handling techniques when dealing with hazardous trash such as broken glass, wires, rusty metals, etc.
To move a load when your hands are full, use a cart and keep the load light. Never let a load obstruct your vision when traveling in hallways or stairways.

Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention

Slips, trips, and falls are extremely common when dealing with slipper, wet, or cluttered floors. To prevent slips, trips, and falls:

Wear comfortable, slip-resistant shoes, long-sleeved shirt, and pants.
Be alert and watch where you are going to ensure you have a clear path.
Check the conditions of floors, stairs, ladders, and work areas. Report defects immediately and avoid unsafe areas until they have been repaired.
Place signs when a floor area is wet/slippery.
Clean up spills immediately after they occur.
Perform floor maintenance when fewer people are around.
Keep walking and working surfaces clean, dry, and unobstructed. Keep passageways to exits clear.
Cover cords and cables that cross walkways.
Keep working areas and hallways well-lit.

Ergonomics for Custodians

For custodians, back and repetitive motion injuries can greatly impact job function since a lot of the work involves lifting, material handling, and repetitive motion. Avoid injuries by using proper technique or equipment:

Stretch before lifting a load.
Bend your knees and keep your feet apart.
Keep your back straight.
Tuck your chin into your chest.
Grip the object with your whole hand.
“Hug” your work – tuck elbows and arms in.
Never twist and lift!
Keep body weight directly over your feet.
Use assist devices, adjustable tools, or equipment whenever possible (e.g., adjustable mop handles).
Reduce motions such as bending, twisting, and reaching. Be mindful of safe manual lifting, the weight of the load, the force of pushing or pulling, and the force on your arms or wrists.

If you would like an ergonomic evaluation of your work tasks, please contact OHSafety@utdallas.edu or request an ergonomics assessment. You may also be interested in the resources available on our Ergonomics webpage.

Bloodborne Pathogens

All equipment and work sites that may be contaminated with human blood or other potentially infectious material (OPIM) must be cleaned by trained employees.

Always assume that equipment and work sites that may be contaminated with human blood or OPIM are infectious.
Use the proper PPE: gloves, masks, glasses, and clothing.
Use proper clean-up procedures with a freshly prepared 10% bleach solution or other approved disinfectants.
Label and use bags or containers with the proper hazard potential labels.