Data Outlines The Dangers Of Cleaning

The work of a cleaner can be more hazardous that construction work, according to figures from Safe Work Australia. 

New analysis shows the average rate of injury in New South Wales, Australia, since 2010 is 11.4 percent in cleaning and other related industries. This is compared to 9.5 percent for construction and 7.4 per cent for mining, according to Sydney Morning Herald reports.

National figures present a similar contrast with the injury rate for building cleaning, pest control and gardening services at an average of 13.1 claims per million hours worked between 2010 and 2016. The rate for construction over the same period is 8.9 and 5 per cent for mining. Cleaning workers in the United States also suffer more injuries than most other private sector jobs.

The high injury rates for cleaners came to the forefront just as the Australian government prepares to outsource school cleaning and maintenance services under a new contract. The new arrangement would include paying the school cleaners based on the square footage they cover, instead of an hourly rate.

Opponents of the new arrangement say private contracting arrangements has, in some cases, made cleaning jobs more dangerous by pressuring employees to work faster. This could result in injuries from repetitive motion, slips and falls, or improper lifting, to name a few.

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