Shift change: WorkSafeBC research shows school custodians suffer high rate of MSIs

Shift change

WorkSafeBC research shows school custodians suffer a high rate of strains and sprains. A district committee wants to lessen their load.

By Heather Young

Reprinted from the March/April 2009 issue of WorkSafe Magazine with the permission of WorkSafe Magazine and WorkSafeBC.

A Clean Break

While many of us struggle to keep our work desks tidy and our homes liveable, workers expected to keep an entire building in tip-top shape each day face a unique set of physical and stressrelated challenges. School custodians have just that job: they work to keep classrooms, offi ces, and school libraries squeaky clean and safe for hundreds of children, their teachers, and administrators. Their tasks include — and are in no way limited to — setting up lunch tables during the school day, hauling garbage, sweeping and mopping fl oors, cleaning washrooms, and during the summer, lifting and moving computers and other heavy items in order to vigorously clean windows, lights, and furniture. Because their jobs are so physically demanding, and they often work alone, it’s perhaps not too surprising that a recent WorkSafeBC-funded study reveals school custodians have a much higher than average rate of musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs). In fact, the study, made possible through WorkSafeBC’s Research Secretariat program, shows custodians suffer four times the rate of MSI injuries for all school district occupations combined. In addition to singling out custodial injuries, the study gives recommendations for reducing injuries among these important, behind-thescenes players — recommendations the Vancouver School Board (VSB) has taken seriously. “Based on the research project’s recommendations, our internal steering committee has already moved forward with several initiatives,” says VSB occupational health and safety manager Collette O’Reilly. “It’s all about keeping people safe on the job.”

Injury Prevention in Action

The project began when researchers Judy Village, an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia, UBC assistant professor Dr. Mieke Koehoorn, and University of Victoria associate professor Dr. Aleck Ostry applied to WorkSafeBC’s Research Secretariat program and received approval for funding a little more than six years ago. The researchers wanted to explore the working conditions for this seemingly hidden group, which reported a rather high injury rate of 11.3 per cent. As Ostry explains, “We really wanted to shine a spotlight on custodians’ injuries.” The research was produced in partnership with the VSB and the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 963. It demonstrates that the way school districts collect and publish injury data masks the injury rates of relatively small occupations, such as custodial work. In the past, the district reported injury rates as a summary of all the occupations, and the relatively low rate of injuries among teachers tended to skew the overall results. The project fi t the Research Secretariat’s mission, which backs “high-quality scientifi c research leading to a reduction in the occurrence, pain and suffering, and mortality from work-related injury and disease.” As well, a goal of this research is to fi nd real-world applications. Research Secretariat director Ed McCloskey says the willingness of the VSB to make positive changes for

working custodians demonstrates the value of such research. “We consider it the best result possible.” O’Reilly couldn’t agree more: “I believed this study would enable us to develop practices to prevent custodians from getting injured in future. And the fact that management is working with our union is critical to our success.”

Sprains and Strains on the Job

MSIs, caused by overexertion or repe titive movements, represent the most common type of injury among custodians. Technically speaking, these “sprains and strains” are injuries or disorders of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves, or blood vessels. A custodian may experience an MSI by doing any number of duties in a range of environments; however, the research found that the most physically demanding tasks likely to injure a custodian are cleaning fl oors, removing garbage, cleaning and moving furniture, and other miscellaneous cleaning duties associated with awkward postures, repetitive movements, or overexertion. Since these job responsibilities are simply part of their daily roster, custodians must ask themselves how they can prevent MSIs and still get their jobs done.

The Nitty-Gritty

Based on a study of work tasks most likely to cause custodial MSIs, the researchers then came up with a list of ways these workers could alter their routines, or gain human or technical help with these chores in order to avoid getting hurt. Their practical suggestions included creating alternative procedures to reduce tasks associated with bending, lifting, and pushing or pulling (such as using fl oor drains rather than lifting buckets to sink level, and using lightweight mops); alternating high-risk tasks with other tasks; providing hands-on assistance during summer, especially for custodians working alone; and, coming up with tools or techniques to reduce the risks associated with problematic tasks, such as hefting lunch tables, moving heavy items to portables, and keeping fl oors clean (through placement of heavy-duty mats at school entranceways). In addition to the VSB’s involvement, Village says the information is being shared with schools outside Vancouver. The researchers presented the fi ndings at two recent occupational health-and-safety conferences and two international conferences. “Districts across the province showed a lot of interest in the study,” Village says.

School Maintenance Made Safer

From textbook theory to real-life lessons, O’Reilly says they are putting the study into action. In addition to the work of the steering committee, the VSB has published two information booklets for all custodial staff: School Break Cleaning and Winter Tasks. School maintenance practices have also changed. The combined unionmanagement committee made window cleaning safer by allowing custodial staff to “share” their work time with other custodians. This practice allows custodians to get help from fellow custodians elsewhere in the district when they need it, and to help their co-workers in return. The school district also reviewed custodians’ equipment needs. The VSB added ergonomically approved equipment, and is doing away with equipment thought to pose a higher risk. “We introduced ice cleats for all engineer-custodial staff to use when they were clearing snow or de-icing outdoor areas,” O’Reilly explains. “And we are eliminating outdated and diffi cult-touse equipment, such as sweeper pails and bail handles.” And they’re not done yet. O’Reilly says the steering committee is moving forward with as many recommendations as it can in the quest to improve working conditions for custodians. “We look forward to seeing much lower injury rates in the future.”

HOW TO SPOT AN MSI

According to WorkSafeBC occupational health-and-safety guidelines, the best way to alleviate a musculoskeletal injury (MSI) or stop it from getting worse is to recognize its early signs and symptoms. If treatment is needed, it can be started right away. You can also take steps within and outside the workplace to avoid making the condition worse. Watch for these signs and symptoms: • swelling • numbness • redness • tingling • reduced mobility • pain If you are experiencing signs or symptoms of an MSI, inform your supervisor and report it to the fi rstaid attendant, if one is available. Signs and symptoms of an MSI may appear suddenly. For example, they may come from a single incident resulting in an injury, or they may appear gradually over a longer period. Don’t ignore the early signs and symptoms of an MSI. Instead, consider immediate treatment and take the necessary steps to prevent the injury from getting worse.

More information on preventing musculoskeletal injuries is available online through two WorkSafeBC publications: Understanding the Risks of Musculoskeletal Injury (MSI): An educational guide for workers on sprains, strains and other MSIs and Preventing Musculoskeletal Injury (MSI): A guide for employers and joint committees, at WorkSafeBC.com.

For more information about WorkSafeBC’s Research Secretariat, please visit WorkSafeBC.com, call 604 244-6300, or email resquery@worksafebc.com.