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Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities

Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners, 2016-2020


Background

Janitors and building cleaners keep many types of buildings clean, orderly, and in good condition.

As of May 2020, there were 1,990,510 people employed in this occupation. The average hourly wage was $15.10, and the average annual wage was $31,410.

Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

In private industry for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners, there were 21,100 nonfatal injury and illness cases involving days away from work in 2020. The incidence rate per 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 191.6.



Table 1. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected case characteristics to janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners in private industry, 2020
Case characteristic[1]Number of cases

Nature of injury or illness

Sprains, strains, tears

6,130

All other natures

5,300

Soreness, pain

4,190

Bruises, contusions

1,670

Fractures

910

Part of body affected

Body systems

3,960

Back

2,440

Hand

1,820

Knee

1,700

Multiple body parts

1,390

Source of injury or illness

All other sources

5,460

Floors, walkways, ground surfaces

4,910

Containers

2,080

Worker motion or position

1,990

Parts and materials

1,300

Event or exposure leading to injury or illness

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

4,740

Fall on same level

4,720

Struck by object or equipment

1,880

Struck against object or equipment

1,790

Overexertion in lifting or lowering

1,460

[1] Data shown correspond to Nature, Part, Source, and Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

Fatal occupational injuries

Fatal work injuries totaled 42 for janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners during 2020, compared to 45 during 2019.


Sources

Wage and employment estimates come from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. Injury and illness information come from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). For more information on SOII program concepts, see the definitions page and the SOII Handbook of Methods. For more information on CFOI program concepts, see the definitions page and the CFOI Handbook of Methods.

 

Last Modified Date: January 27, 2022