Citation

Green DR, Gerberich SG, Kim H, Ryan AD, McGovern PM, Church TR, Schwartz A, Arauz RF. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2020; 63(1): 101-102.

Affiliation

Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety Education and Research Center, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ajim.23059

PMID

31793040

Abstract

The current study measured changes in workload over a 1‐year period; 32% of janitors over both surveys reported an increase in workload, attributable mostly to more job duties, a change in intensity of work, and fewer staff. Due to different study methods and populations, it is difficult to compare these results to other studies. However, a previous study of janitors in Washington State assessed a change in work intensity, and found that among union janitors, reported work intensity increased by 8.6% over the 3‐year period between 2010 and 20132. The current study did not measure the percent increase in workload, but did conclude that, among those who reported an increase in workload, 29% was attributable to intensity of work. Additionally, those who reported an increase, compared to no change, in workload had a nearly two‐fold increase in risk of injury; those who reported a decrease in workload also had a higher risk of injury. This increased risk of injury for those with an increase in workload may be attributable to having more job duties or a change in work intensity and, thus, more opportunity for injury occurrence. The increased risk of injury for those with a decrease in workload may be attributable to changes in physical characteristics, health conditions, or the workplace that may have resulted in both a decrease in workload and an increased risk of injury. For example, a janitor with recent back surgery may be assigned to reduced job duties but may be at higher risk for injuries caused by slips, falls, or lifting. Additionally, a change in workplace, such as the addition of machinery, may minimize the cleaning workload of the janitors, but introduce new hazards associated with the machinery that may lead to injury.

Language: en