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Acute symptoms associated with chemical exposures and safe work practices among hospital and campus cleaning workers: A pilot study
Author(s) -
Lee SooJeong,
Nam Bora,
Harrison Robert,
Hong OiSaeng
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.22376
Subject(s) - medicine , personal protective equipment , environmental health , custodians , occupational safety and health , psychological intervention , occupational exposure , medical emergency , family medicine , emergency medicine , nursing , covid-19 , disease , archaeology , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , history
Background Cleaning workers are regularly exposed to cleaning products containing hazardous chemicals. This study investigated acute symptoms associated with chemical exposures among cleaning workers and their safe work practices. Methods This cross‐sectional study included 183 cleaning workers employed in an academic medical center and affiliated health sciences campuses in Northern California. Data on respiratory, eye, skin, neurological, and gastrointestinal symptoms and occupational factors were collected by in‐person interviews or self‐administered questionnaires. Results Chemical‐related symptoms (several times monthly or more often) were more common among workers who performed patient area cleaning (44%) than hospital custodians (36%) or campus custodians (28%). After controlling for age, sex, and job title, symptoms were associated with exposure to carpet cleaners (OR = 2.98, 95% CI 1.28–6.92), spray products (OR = 2.82, 95% CI 1.16–6.82), solvents (OR = 2.71, 95% CI 1.20–6.15), and multi‐purpose cleaners (OR = 2.58, 935% CI 1.13–6.92). Except for gloves, regular use of personal protective equipment was infrequent. Conclusions Study findings suggest a need for additional interventions such as use of less toxic products to reduce health risks among cleaning workers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:1216–1226, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.