OSHA • NIOSH INFOSHEET

Protecting Workers Who Use Cleaning Chemicals Workplaces, such as schools, hospitals, hotels, restaurants and manufacturing plants, use cleaning chemicals to ensure the cleanliness of their buildings. Workers who handle these products include building maintenance workers, janitors and housekeepers. Some cleaning chemicals can be hazardous, causing problems ranging from skin rashes and burns to coughing and asthma. Many employers are switching to green cleaning products because they are thought to be less hazardous to workers and the environment. This INFOSHEET provides information to employers on practices to help keep workers safe when working with cleaning chemicals, including green cleaning products.

Potential Health Problems Caused • Cleaners remove dirt through wiping, scrubbing by Cleaning Chemicals or mopping. Many factors influence whether a cleaning • Sanitizers contain chemicals that reduce, but do chemical will cause health problems. Some not necessarily eliminate, microorganisms such important factors to consider include: as bacteria, viruses and molds from surfaces. Public health codes may require cleaning with • Chemical ingredients of the cleaning product; the use of sanitizers in certain areas, like toilets • How the cleaning product is being used or stored; and food preparation areas. • Ventilation in the area where the cleaning • Disinfectants contain chemicals that destroy or product is used; inactivate microorganisms that cause infections. • Whether there are splashes and spills; Disinfectants are critical for infection control in • Whether the cleaning product comes in contact hospitals and other healthcare settings. with the skin; and Cleaners, sanitizers and disinfectants serve • Whether mists, vapors and/or gases are released. different purposes, and it is important to choose Chemicals in some cleaning products can be the least hazardous cleaning chemical that will irritating to the skin or can cause rashes. Cleaning accomplish the task at hand. Before purchasing products that contain corrosive chemicals can cause cleaning products, determine whether or not severe burns if splashed on the skin or in the eyes. sanitizing or disinfecting is necessary. If sanitizing or disinfecting is not required, then choose a Mists, vapors and/or gases from cleaning cleaner. In general, disinfectants and sanitizers are chemicals can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and more hazardous than cleaners. lungs. Symptoms may include burning eyes, sore throat, coughing, trouble breathing and wheezing. If sanitizing or disinfecting is necessary, be sure Chemicals in some cleaning products can cause that the product purchased is effective for the asthma or trigger asthma attacks. Some cleaning microorganisms being targeted. EPA regulates products contain hazardous chemicals that can sanitizers and disinfectants (termed “antimicrobial enter the body through skin contact or from pesticides”). For further information, see EPA’s breathing gases into the lungs. Mixing cleaning webpage “What Are Antimicrobial Pesticides?” products that contain bleach and ammonia can (www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/ cause severe lung damage or death. what-are-antimicrobial-pesticides).

Choosing Safer Cleaning Chemicals: Choosing Safer Cleaning Chemicals: Cleaners, Sanitizers or Disinfectants Green Cleaners The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Many employers and building managers are defines cleaners, sanitizers and disinfectants purchasing “green” cleaning chemicals with the as follows: expectation that green cleaning products are safer for workers and the environment. However, placing

1 the word “green” in a name or on a bottle does not • Reviewing the proper protective equipment ensure that a chemical is safe. Employers should needed, such as gloves and goggles, and review the cleaning chemicals they purchase, providing the proper protective equipment to including green cleaning products, to understand the workers using the cleaning product; their health and safety hazards. Employers should • Ensuring that all containers of cleaning products choose the least hazardous cleaners. and chemicals are labeled to identify their contents and hazards; Independent organizations are now certifying chemicals, including cleaners, as “green.” Certified • Operating ventilation systems as needed during green cleaners must meet specific criteria as cleaning tasks to allow sufficient air flow and defined by the certifying organization. Employers prevent buildup of hazardous vapors; and may find information from these certifying • Providing workers with a place to wash up after organizations helpful when purchasing cleaning using cleaning chemicals. chemicals. Some certifying organizations are listed under the Resources section below. Visit the Worker Training EPA webpage, www.epa.gov/greenerproducts for Chemicals pose a wide range of health and safety guidance on cleaning products. hazards. OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) is designed to ensure that Choosing Safer Cleaning Chemicals: information about these hazards and associated Material Safety Data Sheets protective measures is communicated to workers. When choosing safer cleaning chemicals, Worker training must be provided if the cleaning employers can learn much from Safety Data chemicals are hazardous. This training must be Sheets (SDSs). Employers must obtain and provided BEFORE the worker begins using the maintain SDSs for all hazardous cleaning products cleaner. Required training under the OSHA Hazard and chemicals that they use. SDSs must be readily Communication standard includes: accessible to workers. Employers can use the • Health and physical hazards of the information contained in the SDSs to ensure that cleaning chemicals; workers are properly protected. SDSs include the • Proper handling, use and storage of all cleaning following important information: chemicals being used, including dilution • Hazardous chemical ingredients; procedures when a cleaning product must be • Symptoms and health problems that may be diluted before use; caused by the chemical ingredients; • Proper procedures to follow when a spill occurs; • First-aid measures if workers are exposed; • Personal protective equipment required for • Recommended personal protective equipment, using the cleaning product, such as gloves, such as gloves, safety goggles or respirators; and safety goggles and respirators; and • Proper procedures for cleaning up spills. • How to obtain and use hazard information, including an explanation of labels and SDSs.

Safe Work Practices When Using The following are important issues to be discussed Cleaning Chemicals with workers during training: Employers must provide safe working conditions for employees using cleaning chemicals. When • Never mix different cleaning chemicals together. cleaning chemicals are hazardous, employers must Dangerous gases can be released. train workers on safe work practices for using • Cleaning chemicals should not be used to wash these chemicals. Safe work practices when using hands. Wash hands with water after working cleaning chemicals include the following: with a cleaning chemical, especially before eating, drinking or smoking. • Warning workers not to mix cleaning products that contain bleach and ammonia; Employers must provide training to workers at a • Making sure that workers know which cleaning level and in a language and vocabulary that they chemicals must be diluted and how to correctly can understand. dilute the cleaners they are using; • Thoroughly reviewing and training workers on the use, storage and emergency spill procedures for cleaning chemicals;

2 Better Ways to Clean and health during the design and planning of Employers should note recent advances in workplaces, materials and equipment in order to safe cleaning practices and the availability of prevent or minimize hazards and risks. modern cleaning equipment that minimizes the The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has use of chemicals. Practices and equipment to standards for safer cleaning products under the consider include: EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) Safer • Walk-off mats placed inside and outside of Product Labeling Program. A DfE label on a cleaner entry-ways (to prevent dirt from being tracked indicates that the cleaner meets the EPA’s safety into the building); standards. For a list of certified products visit, • Microfiber mops, cloths and dusters; www.epa.gov/saferchoice. • High-filtration HEPA vacuums; Other EPA resources: • Walk-behind hard floor auto-scrubbers; • Greening Your Purchase of Cleaning Products: • Hands-free mops; and A Guide for Federal Purchasers (www.epa.gov/ • Chemical-free cleaning systems. greenerproducts)

Building owners and planners should take building Independent organizations that certify green cleaners: cleaning into consideration when designing new buildings, remodeling old buildings and choosing • Green Seal (www.greenseal.org) materials, such as flooring. See NIOSH’s Prevention • Ecologo (www.ecologo.org) through Design (PtD) program (www.cdc.gov/niosh/ topics/PtD) and EPA’s Design for the Environment OSHA Educational Materials (DfE) (www.epa.gov/dfe) for more information. OSHA has many types of educational materials to assist employers and workers in finding and Resources preventing workplace hazards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides additional information for All OSHA publications are free at www.osha.‌ gov/‌ the cleaning industry at www.osha.gov/SLTC/ publications and www.osha.gov/ebooks. cleaningindustry. OSHA’s Safety and Health Topics You can also call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) to webpage “Hazard Communication” (www.osha.gov/ order publications. dsg/hazcom) has information on OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard. OSHA’s fact sheet, Contacting OSHA Steps to an Effective Hazard Communication To report an emergency, unsafe working Program for Employers That Use Hazardous conditions, file a complaint or to ask safety and Chemicals (www.‌osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3696. health questions, call (800) 321-OSHA (6742); TTY: pdf), provides information on putting together a 1-877-889-5627 or contact your local OSHA office. comprehensive chemical hazard communication For more information, visit www.osha.gov. program. OSHA has guidance on personal protective equipment (www.osha.gov/Publications/ Contacting NIOSH osha3151.pdf), including the types of gloves To receive documents or more information about recommended for exposures to different chemicals. occupational safety and health topics, please The National Institute for Occupational Safety and contact NIOSH: 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636); Health (NIOSH) leads a national initiative called TTY: 1-888-232-6348; e-mail: [email protected] or Prevention through Design (PtD) (www.cdc.gov/ visit www.cdc.gov/niosh. niosh/topics/PtD) that addresses workplace safety

This guidance document is not an OSHA standard or regulation but contains recommendations that are advisory in nature OSHA 3512-02 2012 and intended to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace. The mention of any nongovernmental organization or link to its website in this guidance does not constitute an endorsement by NIOSH or OSHA of that organization, its products or services or website. DHHS (NIOSH) 2012-126

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