Keeping our surroundings and facilities clean is crucial to ensure that no harmful bacteria and germs can affect one’s health. There are many cleaning chemicals suppliers that can help residential, commercial, and industrial building owners in keeping their facilities clean and bacteria-free.
The alarming dangers of using commercial cleaning products
However, it is important to be careful in using such cleaning products. A report from the American Lung Association revealed that common cleaning and household products have harmful chemicals in it. In fact, even so-called “eco-friendly” cleaning products are said to contain chemical traces that can also potentially endanger one’s health.
That is why it is important to take extra precautions when using cleaning products, even if they are advertised as “eco-friendly” or “natural.” This is essentially crucial for those who use cleaning products as part of their jobs. The worse thing that could happen is these products can cost their jobs, which is most likely the reason why their families are able to get by in their daily lives in the first place.
Being too careless about using household chemicals can also compromise the safety of young children. In the UK, for example, almost 30,000 children five years old and below end up in the emergency room due to accidental swallowing and poisoning. There are also cases of burns and death in the worst cases due to the misuse of cleaning products.
Common culprits
First of all, knowing these common household product culprits doesn’t mean you should not use them anymore. Instead, there are some precautionary measures that can help lessen the risk of using such chemical products. Nonetheless, users should be aware of the possible effects of using chemical products on our health.
For example, a lot of cleaning products release what we call volatile organic compounds or VOCs. This, when inhaled, can cause adverse health effects such as allergic reactions, respiratory issues, and even cancer. That is why you should be careful when using these products as they usually contain VOCs:
- Detergents
- Chlorine bleach
- Aerosols and air fresheners
- Floor polish
- Oven cleaners
- And other common cleaning products
How to prevent mishaps due to cleaning chemicals
For one thing, building owners and cleaning companies should ensure that their employees are well-equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE), especially when handling chemicals in the daily.
It is important that workers are also familiar with the common chemicals present in these products and how to avoid causing injuries, especially in the workplace. They should not take safety training for granted as it can ensure safety in the workplace as well.
In the event that an employee or worker comes into contact with these cleaning products and cause adverse effects, he or she should do first-aid and report the incident to their supervisor or employer.
The same should also apply at home. When using cleaning products, make sure to wear a mask or gloves to minimize the harmful effects of such products. Ensure that windows are open to lessen the risk of inhaling harmful chemicals. Read the instructions to avoid injuries while cleaning.
It is important to keep our surroundings clean. However, it should not be at the expense of our health. That is why we should have due diligence when using cleaning products.
