Chapter 23: Safety on the Job
Working as a home cleaner involves physical labor, chemical products, and working alone in clients’ homes. Understanding basic safety principles protects you from injury, reduces liability, and ensures you can work consistently without losing income to preventable accidents.
What You Will Learn
- How to prevent common cleaning injuries through proper technique and awareness
- Safe chemical handling practices that protect your health
- Essential personal protective equipment and when to use it
- How to recognize hazards that require professional specialists
- Personal safety practices for working alone in clients’ homes
Common Ways Cleaners Get Injured
Most cleaning injuries are preventable with proper awareness and technique.
Slips and falls are the most common injury. Work backwards when mopping so you stand on dry surfaces. Watch for wet floors, loose rugs, and pet toys. Wear non-slip shoes always.
Back strain occurs from improper lifting or repeated bending. Bend at your knees, keep your back straight, and hold items close to your body. Push furniture rather than pull when possible.
Head injuries happen when standing up into open cupboard doors. Close cabinet doors immediately after cleaning each one, especially in kitchens when working top to bottom.
Repetitive strain develops in wrists, elbows, and shoulders. Switch hands regularly and use extension handles to avoid overhead reaching.
Trips and falls result from electrical cords across walkways. Keep cords away from stairs and traffic areas. Rechargeable equipment eliminates this hazard entirely.
Step ladder accidents occur when standing on furniture or unstable surfaces. Keep a proper step ladder in your vehicle and ensure it is stable before climbing.
Chemical Safety Practices
Read product labels before using anything new. Understand what to do if products contact skin or eyes.
Never mix chemicals. Bleach and ammonia create toxic gas that can be fatal. If a client has already used chemicals, flush the area with water before adding your own products.
Ventilate work areas. Open windows when using strong products. Close them before you leave.
Store products securely. Use a closed container, especially when children or pets are present. Never leave products unattended.
Essential Personal Protective Equipment
Gloves: Wear gloves when cleaning bathrooms, handling pet messes, or using strong chemicals. Keep disposable gloves for quick tasks and heavy rubber gloves for deeper cleaning.
Masks: Wear masks when vacuuming dusty homes, using spray products, or cleaning areas with visible mold. Keep disposable masks for general dust and N95 masks for mold or stronger chemicals.
Safety Glasses: Use when spraying products, especially above your head. A splash of toilet cleaner or oven degreaser can cause serious eye damage.
First Aid Kit: Keep bandages, antiseptic wipes, eye rinse, and burn gel in your vehicle.
Working Around People and Pets
Larger animals should be crated while you work to prevent injuries to them or to you. Address this during your initial walkthrough and be strict about this requirement. A dog or large pet following you from room to room creates trip hazards and interferes with your work.
Small wandering cats rarely present issues, but larger animals need to be secured.
Small children should not be present while you work. Explain to homeowners that this protects both the child’s safety and yours. You do not want to trip over children or have them access your cleaning caddy and chemicals.
If clients cannot arrange for children or pets to be elsewhere, consider rescheduling for a safer time.
Recognizing Serious Hazards
Mold: Small spots can be treated with mold remover. Extensive mold covering more than a few square feet requires professional remediation. When working with small areas, open windows for ventilation, wear gloves and a mask, and ventilate again after finishing.
Asbestos: Homes built before 1980 may contain asbestos in ceilings, floor tiles, or insulation. If you see crumbly grey material or flaking textured surfaces, do not disturb it. Asbestos requires licensed professionals for removal. In older homes, wear an N95 mask when vacuuming and use damp cloths instead of dry dusting.
Rodent droppings: You can sweep up rodent droppings, but inform the homeowner what you found. In some older homes this may be a common occurrence. Wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly afterward.
When you are uncertain about a hazard, stop and ask the client.
Electrical Safety
Water and electricity create serious hazards when combined. Follow these practices in every home.
Avoid outlets and switches. Do not spray cleaners near electrical outlets or light switches. Wipe these areas with a damp cloth instead.
Unplug before servicing. Unplug vacuum cleaners before clearing jams or changing bags. Never reach into electrical equipment while it is connected to power.
Check cords regularly. Inspect extension cords and equipment cords for damage. Replace frayed or damaged cords immediately. Keep cords visible by using bright colors and avoid running them across aisles or over partitions.
Personal Safety When Working Alone
Working alone provides flexibility but requires awareness of personal security.
Share your schedule. Tell a friend or family member where you will be and when you expect to finish. Update them if your schedule changes.
Lock doors once inside. This protects both you and your client’s home from unexpected visitors.
Keep your phone charged. Your phone is your primary safety tool if you need help or need to contact your client.
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, step outside or leave. You can explain your concerns later. Your safety is more important than any single job.
Setting Professional Boundaries
Clients may occasionally ask you to handle tasks beyond safe cleaning practices. This includes reaching dangerous heights, lifting heavy furniture, or handling hazardous materials.
Your response should be direct and professional: “That area requires special equipment for safety. I can recommend someone who handles that type of work.”
Setting boundaries protects you from injury and demonstrates your professionalism. Clients respect cleaners who understand their limitations and work within safe parameters.
Building Safety Into Your Reputation
Clients notice when you work carefully and follow safety procedures. Using proper equipment, wearing protective gear, and taking time to work safely demonstrates your professionalism.
Safety practices become part of your business reputation. Clients who feel safe with you in their homes will hire you repeatedly and recommend you to others. Your careful approach to hazards, chemicals, and equipment builds trust that marketing cannot buy.
Key Takeaways
- Most injuries are preventable: watch for wet floors, close cupboard doors immediately, use proper lifting technique, and keep cords away from traffic areas
- Never mix cleaning chemicals, especially bleach and ammonia which create toxic gas
- Wear gloves when handling chemicals, wear masks in dusty environments, and wear safety glasses when spraying products
- Require that larger animals be crated during your cleaning session and avoid working when small children are present
- Small mold spots can be treated but extensive growth requires professional remediation
- Rodent droppings can be swept up but inform the homeowner what you found
- Share your schedule with someone when working alone and trust your instincts about safety
- Set professional boundaries when clients request unsafe tasks
- Safety practices build client trust and protect your ability to earn income consistently