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Cleaning can be more dangerous than construction work - says Safe Work Australia
26th of September 2017
The work of a cleaner can be more hazardous that construction work, according to figures from Safe Work Australia.
New analysis shows the average rate of workplace injury in New South Wales (NSW) since 2010 is 11.4 workers compensation claims per million hours worked in cleaning and other related industries, compared to 9.5 for construction and 7.5 for mining.
MP David Shoebridge has highlighted the high injury rates for cleaners as the NSW Government prepares to outsource school cleaning and maintenance services under a new contract.
The new arrangement includes paying the state's school cleaners according to the ground they cover instead of an hourly rate.
National figures present a similar contrast with the injury rate for building cleaning, pest control and gardening services at an average of 13.1 claims per million hours worked between 2010 and 2016. The rate for construction over the same period is 8.9 and five per cent for mining.
The Safe Work Australia figures analysed by the NSW Greens are based on time lost for injuries per million hours worked.
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