Californian Janitor Workload Study Finds High Frequency of Adverse Health Consequences

Most (85%) janitors surveyed by California’s Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation (CHSWC) reported moderate to severe work-related pain in at least one body region. CHSWC also found over half of janitors (57%) had moderate to severe work-related pain in three or four body regions.

Correspondingly, over half of janitors used medication more than once a month to manage their pain, and one in five workers missed work at least every other month due to their pain. Nearly half of respondents to CHSWC’s study had worked as a janitor for more than 10 years and were surveyed between October 2021 and January 2023.

Over half of the janitors who responded (57%) indicated that their income did not meet their household expenses, that it would not be easy to change jobs (51%), and that they would not report an injury (65%). Approximately one quarter of workers also reported that they could not stay home when sick without fear of loss of job or pay.

Additionally, nearly half of workers reported an increase in their workload, disinfecting tasks, and pressure to work faster during the COVID-19 pandemic, and one-third of workers reported not having the protective equipment needed.

The report includes recommendations for California legislators, including consideration of a formal California regulatory standard, as well as facilitation of a collaborative approach to target intervention efforts that mitigate ergonomic hazards.

Click here to read the full California Janitor Workload Study report.