How to Protect Your Hands and Feet While Cleaning

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Jean Hanson

It's important for cleaning companies to establish guidelines for protecting their employees hands and feet. Without hand protection, workers can become exposed to germs, bacteria, and harsh chemicals. Without proper foot protection, workers are subject to injury. The following are tips for protecting the hands and feet of custodial employees:

Hand Protection:

Gloves must fit properly, so offer various sizes to workers.
Some people may have allergic reactions to certain gloves such as those made of latex, so offer alternatives in this situation.
Never wear worn or torn gloves.
Disposable gloves are to be used once and then thrown away.
Reusable gloves must be properly cared for, so follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions.
After removing gloves, instruct workers to wash their hands thoroughly.

Foot Protection:

Never allow custodial workers to wear open-toed shoes or high heels.
Never allow custodial workers to wear shoes without heel protection, as feet can easily slip out of the shoes and cause injury.
Rubber-soled shoes are best to prevent slip and fall accidents.
Shoes should be made of leather or canvas. Synthetic shoes cause feet to sweat, which can cause problems for workers who stand or walk for long periods of time.
Shoes should fit properly. Shoes that are too tight can cause pain and shoes that are too loose do not offer the proper support needed for standing or walking for long periods of time.

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Steve Hanson helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through his online community at TheJanitorialStore.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for weekly cleaning tips at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com.