What to Know About Custodial Work Injuries

Custodial work is physically demanding, and it can result in exposure to various levels of dirt, debris, and hazardous substances. As such, custodial workers — often known as janitors or building cleaners — tend to sustain injuries and to suffer work-related harm at a higher rate than many other kinds of workers. Indeed, custodial employees frequently work in office buildings with other professionals who primarily perform jobs behind their desks and are not at risk of the same types of injuries as the custodial workers performing maintenance and cleaning tasks in the same structure.

Whether you are a custodial worker yourself, or you have a spouse or other family member who was injured performing custodial work, what do you need to know about injuries in this type of job? Our Maryland workers’ compensation lawyers can say more.

Custodial Work Can Be Hazardous 

Like other jobs that require physical labor and exposure to various types of substances, custodial work can be hazardous. What do these jobs entail? According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), custodial workers are typically tasked with keeping many different types of buildings “clean, sanitary, orderly, and in good condition.” The BLS also specifies that, although custodial workers typically work indoors, “they may also work outdoors on tasks such as sweeping walkways or removing snow.”

The US Department of the Interior clarifies that custodial work “involves moderate physical effort and some exposure to dirt, dust, and chemicals.”

Injuries Among Custodial Workers Can Vary Widely 

Given the many different types of job tasks that custodial workers must perform — both indoors and outdoors — they can sustain a wide range of injuries. Common types of injuries among custodial workers include but are not limited to:

• Slips, trips, and falls;
• Back injuries;
• Repetitive motion injuries;
• Sprains and strains;
• Overexertion injuries;
• Harmful exposure to cleaning chemicals, hazardous substances, and hazardous waste materials;
• Falls from heights, especially when required to perform maintenance tasks on ladders; and
• Struck-by injuries while stocking or moving supplies.

Custodial Workers May Be Eligible for Workers’ Compensation Benefits After an Injury 

Most employers in Maryland are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, and any custodial worker who gets hurt while working for a covered employer can be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if their injuries result from an “accidental personal injury arising out of and in the course of employment.” Occupational diseases, caused by hazardous exposures, can also be covered in a range of cases, so it is important to discuss the details of your case with a lawyer.

Contact a Maryland Custodial Worker Injury Lawyer 

Were you injured while performing custodial work for an employer? Or do you have a loved one who was seriously injured while doing janitorial or building cleaning work? These jobs can be dangerous, and workers can suffer various kinds of injuries that require days, weeks, months, and even more time away from work to heal. You should get in touch with one of the experienced Maryland custodial worker injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC to find out more about seeking compensation after a workplace injury.

Sources:

bls.gov/ooh/building-and-grounds-cleaning/janitors-and-building-cleaners.htm

careers.doi.gov/occupational-series/custodial-working

wcc.state.md.us/gen_info/wcc_benefits.html