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The French National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) has published a report analyzing the working conditions of cleaning staff and their impact on workers’ health.
Cleaning workers are exposed to numerous occupational risks (heavy physical strain, irregular hours, isolated work, exposure to chemicals and biological agents, etc.), and the sector has a higher than average accident rate (more frequent workplace accidents, more numerous and more serious occupational diseases, etc.).
In its opinion published at the end of 2025, ANSES recommends strengthening risk prevention in the sector by:
- implementing a prevention campaign specifically targeting musculoskeletal disorders (the main cause of occupational diseases in the sector);
- promoting daytime work in order to limit isolation at work, the invisibility of staff, and shift work;
- facilitating access to prevention measures for cleaning staff by adapting them to their specific needs.
In the event of outsourcing of cleaning activities, ANSES recommends as a priority:
- reminding companies using services of their obligation to ensure compliance with labor legislation;
- strengthening the responsibilities of companies using services, for better involvement and cooperation with service providers;
- considering a change in the method of calculating “occupational accident/illness” contribution rates in order to share the cost between service providers and user companies.
