FM newsroom – cleaning, facility management. The future of clean, efficient workplaces lies in recognizing cleaners not just as service providers, but as essential contributors to the health and usability of our environments and asses how building design, cooperation, and conscious habits can ease the burden on cleaning professionals.
For the past three years, a team of industry experts has delved into the world of cleaning ergonomics and mindful cleaning practices. In an article for the European Cleaning Journal (ECJ), experts explored the challenges cleaners face in shared workplaces and how thoughtful design and collaboration can make a real difference.
The Invisible Workstation
Search “good ergonomics” online, and you’ll find countless images of people adjusting desks, chairs, and computer monitors. But what about cleaners? Unlike office workers, cleaners don’t have a fixed workstation. Their workspace shifts multiple times daily, often without any control over the environment.
Unfortunately, this lack of consistency creates physical and mental stress. Cleaners work around various obstacles and adapt to changing conditions, often at the cost of their own health and well-being.
What Makes Cleaning Physically Demanding?
Several factors increase the physical workload for cleaners:
- Poor condition or inappropriate choice of surface materials
- Cluttered or heavily furnished rooms
- Lack of proper waste management
- Inadequate air conditioning
- Hard-to-reach or dust-collecting surfaces
These issues force cleaners into awkward or bent positions and make tasks more physically demanding than necessary.
Cleaners often lack essential information about how a space is used or when it will be occupied. This uncertainty makes it harder to plan their tasks efficiently, creating unnecessary stress and time pressure.
Designing for Cleanability Starts at the Blueprint
The foundation for a cleaning-friendly environment is laid long before a cleaner enters the building. During construction and space planning, decisions should be made with cleaning in mind:
- Can cleaning machines move between floors without being lifted?
- Are there elevated or hidden surfaces that gather dust?
- Can surfaces be cleaned without bending or twisting awkwardly?
Though seemingly small, these design choices have a long-term impact on the ease of cleaning and worker well-being.
The Role of Users in Clean Workspaces
During the ErgoClean project, surveys conducted in Estonia, Finland, Hungary, and the Netherlands revealed that:
- 70% of cleaners struggle with clutter on floors and countertops
- Cables on the floor often require bending or working around them
- Poorly arranged or excessive furniture hampers movement and cleaning
- Ineffective dust removal can even affect indoor air quality
Collaboration is Key: The Rise of Cleanability Walks
In Finland, a promising solution has been the introduction of cleanability walks. These are joint walkthroughs between the cleaning company and the client to identify and eliminate barriers to cleaning. As a result, practical adjustments have been made:
- Loose wires are moved into racks
- Objects cluttering surfaces are relocated to cabinets
- Furniture placement is optimized
This cooperation improves not only cleanliness but also efficiency and morale.
Survey respondents also emphasized the need for cooperation with property management. Worn furniture or damaged surfaces can increase cleaning time and strain. While employers are taking steps to improve ergonomics, external collaboration is often necessary.
Since cleaning services are often outsourced, it’s critical that client organizations and other service providers actively participate in improving working conditions.
