International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 36 (2006) 61–72 Musculoskeletal ill health amongst cleaners and recommendations for work organisational change V. Woods à , P. Buckle Robens Centre for Health Ergonomics, EIHMS, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7TE, UK Received 8 February 2005; received in revised form 28 July 2005; accepted 2 August 2005 Available online 25 October 2005 Abstract This paper presents findings from an investigation into the musculoskeletal health of UK cleaners. It focuses on cleaning work organisation and practises, and recommendations for supervisors and managers to work with cleaners to reduce health and workplace problems. Questionnaire surveys of 1216 cleaners throughout the UK, 130 assessments of cleaning tasks and interviews with 38 cleaners at 9 workplaces were undertaken to identify potential risk factors for musculoskeletal ill health. Based on the findings of this participative study and previous research [e.g. Kru¨ger et al., 1997. Risk Assessment and Preventive Strategies in Cleaning Work. Wirtschaftsverlag NW, Bremerhaven], recommendations were presented to groups of cleaning supervisors, managers, trainers, designers and manufacturers to ensure that advice provided for reducing musculoskeletal ill health was practical for the industry. The recommendations related to work organisational change (i.e. work scheduling and work practises such as teamwork and job extension, communication/social support networks) and organisational strategies (i.e. reporting systems for musculoskeletal ill heath; procedures for risk assessment; training programme design; equipment selection; maintenance procedures; workplace changes). This paper concentrates on only one part of the work system that influences musculoskeletal health; recommendations on musculoskeletal health and cleaning equipment design/use are reported elsewhere [Woods and Buckle, 2005. An investigation into the design and use of workplace cleaning equipment. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 35, 247–266; Woods et al., 1999. Musculoskeletal Health of Cleaners. HSE Books, Suffolk.]. Relevance to industry Cleaning is important, physically demanding, labour-intensive work, conducted by millions worldwide. Managers and supervisors should work with staff to improve organisation of cleaning to ensure better musculoskeletal health. The importance of organisational changes must be recognised by others in the industry (e.g. employers, contract cleaning managers, training organisations, manufacturers). r 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Cleaners; Musculoskeletal ill health; Work organisation; Scheduling; Workload; Social support networks 1. Introduction Cleaning is vital to society and millions worldwide work in the cleaning industry. Approximately 800,000 people work as cleaners in the UK (CSSA, 2002). Given the size of this workforce, the physically demanding work undertaken and the variety of environments in which cleaners operate (e.g. hospitals, schools, offices), safe-working practises should be in place to enable workers to remain healthy and complete work to a satisfactory standard. Previous studies in Europe, Australia and Canada indicated that cleaners have a high risk of developing musculoskeletal problems, affecting the back, neck, shoulders, elbows and hands (Aickin, 1997; Huth et al., 1996; Johansson and Ljunggren, 1989; Kru¨ger et al., 1997; Nielsen, 1995; Søgaard et al., 1996; Toivanen et al., 1993; Tuomi et al., 1991) that have lead to frequent absenteeism (Edsberg et al., 1983; Messing et al., 1992). The tasks that cleaners conduct (e.g. using buffing machines, mopping, ARTICLE IN PRESS www.elsevier.com/locate/ergon 0169-8141/$ - see front matter r 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ergon.2005.08.001 à Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 1483 686738; fax: +44 1483 689395. E-mail address: v.woods@surrey.ac.uk (V. Woods).