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Home›Courses›Safety Training›Workplace Safety in Janitorial Settings

Workplace Safety in Janitorial Settings

27 minutesEN / ESSafety Training29 CFR 1910.1200, 29 CFR 1910.22, 29 CFR 1910.1030
Quick Answer

Workplace Safety in Janitorial Settings is a 27-minute online course that covers safety hazards specific to custodial work - including chemical exposure, slips and falls, ergonomic risks, and bloodborne pathogen contact - as addressed under OSHA standards 29 CFR 1910.1200, 29 CFR 1910.22, and 29 CFR 1910.1030. It is designed for janitorial and custodial staff and their supervisors and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

Janitorial and custodial workers face a disproportionate rate of workplace injuries compared to many other occupations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, cleaning and janitorial workers experience some of the highest rates of musculoskeletal injuries, chemical exposures, and slip-and-fall incidents across all private industries. OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) ranked as the second most-cited violation in FY 2025 with 2,546 citations - and cleaning chemicals are among the most common hazardous substances custodial workers encounter daily.

This course prepares your janitorial and custodial employees to recognize and avoid the specific hazards they face on the job. Your team will learn safe handling and storage of cleaning chemicals, proper use of Safety Data Sheets, slip and fall prevention on wet surfaces, ergonomic techniques for repetitive tasks like mopping and lifting, and bloodborne pathogen precautions when cleaning restrooms or handling waste. The course addresses OSHA requirements that apply directly to custodial operations and gives your employees practical safety skills for their daily routines.

What You'll Learn

  • Chemical hazards from cleaning products and OSHA's Hazard Communication requirements under 29 CFR 1910.1200
  • Reading and using Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for common cleaning chemicals
  • Slip, trip, and fall prevention on wet and freshly cleaned surfaces per 29 CFR 1910.22
  • Ergonomic techniques for mopping, vacuuming, lifting, and repetitive custodial tasks
  • Bloodborne pathogen precautions when cleaning restrooms and handling waste per 29 CFR 1910.1030
  • Proper use of personal protective equipment for custodial work
  • Electrical safety around water, wet equipment, and cleaning operations

Who Needs This Training

  • Janitorial and custodial staff in commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities
  • Cleaning crew supervisors responsible for daily safety compliance
  • Facility managers overseeing janitorial operations and contractor oversight
  • School district custodial employees working in educational buildings
  • Healthcare facility housekeeping staff with bloodborne pathogen exposure risk
  • Property management companies employing in-house cleaning teams

Regulatory Background

Janitorial operations fall under multiple OSHA standards. The Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires employers to train workers on the chemical hazards present in their workplace - and cleaning chemicals, disinfectants, and stripping agents frequently contain substances with OSHA-established permissible exposure limits. This standard was the second most-cited OSHA violation in FY 2025, with 2,546 citations issued. The walking-working surfaces standard (29 CFR 1910.22) requires employers to maintain floors and surfaces free from hazards including spills and wet conditions - a constant challenge in custodial work. The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) applies to any worker who may encounter blood or other potentially infectious materials, which includes custodial staff cleaning restrooms and handling waste. Violations carry penalties of up to $16,550 per serious violation and up to $165,514 for willful or repeated violations. Employers must provide initial and ongoing training under each applicable standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Several OSHA standards apply, including the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) for chemical safety training, the walking-working surfaces standard (29 CFR 1910.22) for slip and fall prevention, the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) for exposure to blood and infectious materials, and the PPE standard (29 CFR 1910.132) for protective equipment. The specific standards that apply depend on the tasks and hazards present in your facility.
Yes. Under the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), employers must train employees on the hazardous chemicals present in their work area, how to read Safety Data Sheets, how to interpret container labels, and what protective measures to take. This training must be provided when employees are first assigned to work with chemicals and whenever a new chemical hazard is introduced.
Custodial workers who clean restrooms, handle waste containers, or may encounter blood or other potentially infectious materials are generally covered under 29 CFR 1910.1030. Employers must include these workers in their Exposure Control Plan, provide training, and offer the hepatitis B vaccination at no cost to the employee.
Frequency varies by standard. Hazard Communication training must be provided initially and whenever new chemical hazards are introduced. Bloodborne Pathogens training must be repeated annually under 29 CFR 1910.1030. General safety training should be refreshed whenever new hazards, equipment, or procedures are introduced. Many employers conduct annual refresher training to maintain compliance across all applicable standards.
OSHA penalties for Hazard Communication violations reach up to $16,550 per serious citation and up to $165,514 for willful or repeated violations. In FY 2025, Hazard Communication was the second most-cited OSHA violation with 2,546 citations issued. Cleaning chemicals are among the most commonly encountered workplace hazards, making this a frequent inspection focus.

Related Courses

Employers training custodial teams often pair this course with Hazard Communication: GHS Safety Data Sheets to deepen their staff's ability to interpret chemical safety information, and Slips, Trips and Falls to provide focused training on the hazard most commonly associated with janitorial injuries.

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$29.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$29.95
10 - 24$23.95
25 - 49$21.55
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $29.95
Language

This course is available in English and Spanish at no additional charge.

Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.

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$29.95
per person