Transitioning from traditional to green cleaners: an analysis of custodian and manager focus groups

Details

• Personal Author:
  Morse T ; Simcox N ; Wakai S ; Welsh L ; Westinghouse C
• Description:
  Custodians represent one of the largest occupational groups using cleaning agents, and yet their voices are infrequently heard in relation to the introduction of "green" cleaners and the laws regarding environmentally preferable products (EPP). This study reflects worker voices on use and effectiveness of chemicals, as well as incentives and obstacles for green cleaning programs. Sixty-four custodians and staff participated in 10 focus groups. Data were entered into Atlas Ti and the constant comparative method of qualitative data analysis was used to identify themes. Themes included satisfaction in a "well-done" job, more effort required for job, lack of involvement in EPP selection process, EPP's ease of use for workers with English as a Second Language (ESL), misuse of disinfectants, health complaints, and need for training. This study shows that custodians have a voice, and that improved communication and feedback among all the stakeholders are needed to make the transition to green cleaning more effective. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Chemistry Men Occupational Health Safety Women
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Green Cleaning Chemical-composition Cleaning-compounds Custodian Environmentally Preferable Products Humans Qualitative-analysis Sociological-factors Substitution Workers
• ISSN:
  1048-2911
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Connecticut ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  449-471
• Volume:
  22
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20042164
• Citation:
  New Solut 2013 Feb; 22(4):449-471
• Email:
  nsimcox@u.washington.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• NORA Priority Area:
  Services
• Performing Organization:
  University of Connecticut Schools of Medicine, Farmington
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20090901
• Source Full Name:
  New Solutions: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy
• End Date:
  20140831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3517fbda5674c69fbb22ac8f45095ab2de4a0c13877c9d063d4d0ad5806de379bfa612aaf8eb66ea240efd6473a2b9c4d764dd1fed6051d0922c4d43188a61a9
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/194473/cdc_194473_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 244.49 KB ]