Controlling chemicals in the cleaning sector – less is more

Workers in the cleaning sector undertake various activities and perform those in different work environments. How much workers are exposed to chemicals (i.a. Formaldehyde) depends on the type of products which are used by the workers and the environment in which the activity takes place.

ISS Group is a cleaning company in Sweden with more than 5,000 cleaners employed. ISS Group aims to reduce the exposure to workers to cleaning chemicals to the minimum level possible by

(a) by the elimination of chemicals from the cleaning process,
(b) by reducing the need for cleaning chemicals (using a three-point platform) and
(c) through employee training and daily follow-ups by onsite managers.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work published a case study on protection from dangerous substances in the cleaning sector. Please follow this link for more information.