Lets face it, janitors have a really hard job to get done. Most of the time their pay is low and therefore they can not afford adequate health care for themselves, nevermind their family. Sadly, the perception of them in the public eye is not too nice either, it is thought that just because you are a janitor then you are not very clever because you do not have a formal education. Its sad to think that people think like this. They have one of the worst duties in the world, they have to clean some really nasty things. It really is not fair that they are sometimes perceived as anything different from any other profession.

To add to all their other problems are injuries. According to the Bureau of labor and statistics, there are 50 000 injuries that happen every single year and are all due to janitorial accidents. They have the sixteenth highest rate of injury in all of the work fields. Thats really high. The most common causes of injury are due to the following.

Exposure to dangerous and poisonous chemicals – The cleaners and chemicals that janitors have to use are so poisonous that they lead to damage of the lungs and nasal passage. Its made even worse when protective gear is not used.

Exposure to potential blood-borne diseases and illnesses – Janitors in health care settings are at more risk of catching very dangerous and infectious diseases due to having to clean medical equipment or areas that are near things that are infected with dangerous germs, bacteria, or pathogens.

Back and shoulder Issues – The biggest cause of injury in the occupation of a janitor is going to be injuries to the back and shoulders sustained from mopping floors, carrying heavy trash cans, slips, falls, having to climb onto things to clean high places, and possibly falling. There are so many threats and things that could go wrong.

Out of all the causes for injury in the occupation of being a janitor, there is one such cause that trumps the rest. That is mopping. More specifically, mopping the floor with a mop that does not have an extendable handle. Studies have shown that the perfect height to have a mop handle is just above the nose of the user. By having the pole at this height, the user is able to move the pole properly without having to use their back and shoulders in a bad way.

Microfiber mops with extendable handles are not very expensive. Any organization can afford to simply buy a different mop the next time they restock. Think of the safety of your janitor and put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel? Do the right thing and do right by your janitor.