From time to time we receive requests from potential clients who desire to have our employees remove their shoes to clean their homes. Sorry, we are not able to fulfill that request and I will state the reasons below:
OSHA regulations are clear that employees must be provided a safe working environment. Part of that safety is providing them an atmosphere that does not put them in danger of falling.
Check this out:
“Same level falls” (such as tripping or slipping) are a very frequent type of accident, constituting 65 percent of all fall injuries. Aside from fractures and contusion injuries, even when workers don’t actually fall down and strike the walking surface, the bodily reaction to tripping or slipping often causes back or overexertion injuries such as sprains, tears or strains.
While painful and incapacitating for the affected worker, these injuries represent a serious problem for management as well. According to estimates, average employer expenditures for a single overexertion or back injury may exceed$10,000 to $15,000 in direct costs for medical expense and absenteeism. When combined with the indirect costs, the financial toll for one injury can be quite phenomenal.
When a person cleans in socks, that person is in immediate danger of slipping. When a person cleans in socks (including gripper socks) that person is in immediate danger of stepping on a sharp object that is not visible to the naked eye.
Sometimes a potential client will request that employees wear shoe covers. We are not able to fulfill that request either. The reason? There is a high degree of falls associated with shoe covers. Shoe covers are slippery.
While there are companies in existence that will allow for employees to work in bare feet, in socks or in shoe covers, UpperCrust Maids is not such a company. We require that employees wear shoes. If you are adamant about having people not wear shoes in your home, we certainly do understand your stance; however, we would ask that you find a different company because we are not the right fit for anyone who wants our employees to work without the right protective gear.