Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

What Results Should You Expect When Cleaning Is Genuinely Ergonomic?

  • By Jacalyn High
  • 10/01/16

The word ergonomic gets used abundantly in regard to cleaning, but that is because the primary resource in cleaning is manual labor. When you’re working with manual labor, good ergonomics have the potential to transform just about every aspect of the work with safer, more intuitive processes and tools. Put simply, for something to be ergonomic, it must be efficient and people-friendly. That can apply to every cleaning task from vacuuming the carpet to dusting the light fixtures.

That said, there is a difference between transformative ergonomics and superficial ergonomics. An example of superficial ergonomics would be to take a heavy and unwieldy tool and put a more comfortable handle grip on it. The hand might be more comfortable, but the task is still difficult to perform. Transformative ergonomics in cleaning could come from a drastic rethinking of how a task is done or from a slight tweak, but the improvements in your cleaning program should be undeniable if you are tracking key information.

When considering a switch to a new ergonomic approach, conduct your own in-house study to compare your existing method with the new ergonomic method. First, work with a cleaner on how to use new equipment or follow a new process properly. Then time how long it takes the cleaner to do the same task in the same space with both methods, and document the quality of the results. Afterwards, give cleaners a questionnaire about how intuitive the new method is and their physical comfort doing the task. After tracking these factors, the benefits of ergonomic methods should become apparent.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

About the Author

Jacalyn High is director of Marketing for ProTeam Vacuums. She can be reached at 866/888-2168 or through proteam.emerson.com.

Featured

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.

  • Porter Family Center

    Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • UCF Modernizes College of Hospitality Management

    The University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., recently completed a major renovation effort for the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, according to a news release. The project modernized 77,600 square feet worth of academic classrooms, teaching labs, and collaborative spaces to support both students and faculty.

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Announces Acquisition of JJCA

    Wold Architects & Engineers, based in Minneapolis, Minn., recently announced that it has acquired JJCA, an architecture firm based in Nashville, Tenn., according to a press release. JJCA specializes in healthcare and education design; the partnership allows both firms to expand their presence across the country while building on existing strengths.