Ergonomics Evaluation of the Use of a Handled Shower-Cleaning Tool

Abstract

Cleaning a bathroom presents several risk factors for acute and cumulative musculoskeletal injury. This study attempted to determine if using a handled tool while cleaning a typical North American bathtub/shower combination reduces the stress placed on the musculoskeletal system when compared to the use of a spray cleaner and sponge. Nineteen right-handed female subjects cleaned a systematically dirtied shower/bathtub combination using a sponge and a handled tool 21 inches long. The subjects' rated their perceived strain and effort both during and after cleaning. Videotape was obtained simultaneously from three cameras at different locations in the test bathroom and subsequently analyzed for postural data. Subjective responses indicated that subjects felt more comfortable while using the handled tool, and the majority of respondents said they preferred it to a typical sponge and spray cleaner. Postural analysis clearly indicated that the handled tool allowed users to remain in more neutral wrist, shoulder, and trunk postures a greater percentage of the time, and enabled them to remain in less awkward, more stable foot and lower extremity positions. The handled tool significantly reduced the percentage of time that subjects spent cleaning the bathtub, but not the entire shower enclosure.

Comparisons of Trunk Motions and Low Back Injury Risk between Alternative Hotel Room Cleaning Methods

“…Third, task time differences due to the cleaning equipment used was not studied. However, Janowitz et al [ 20 ] found there to be no significant time difference between use of a sponge and a handled tool to clean a standard American shower/tub area. We expect that similar results would have been found in this study as well.…”

“…In addition, worker interaction with the study cleaning tool resulted in lower subjective ratings of perceived effort during the study task. Janowitz et al [ 20 ] compared use of a handled tool to clean a bathtub/shower area with that of a sponge and spray cleaner. They found that trunk, wrist, and shoulder angles were significantly less deviated when using the handled tool.…”