🦺 Cleaning Safety

• asbestos caution as-BES-tos KAW-shun ▶ EN
  precaución con asbesto preh-kow-SYOHN kohn as-BES-toh ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Old floor tile can contain asbestos: never dry-sand, aggressively strip, or drill 9x9 tile in old buildings — report damage, don't clean it up.

  That crumbling 9x9 tile is an asbestos caution — stop and call the office. — Esa loseta de 9x9 que se está deshaciendo es precaución de asbesto — párale y habla a la oficina.

• bloodborne pathogens BLUD-born PATH-oh-jenz ▶ EN
  patógenos de la sangre pah-TOH-heh-nohs deh lah SAHN-greh ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Germs carried in blood and body fluids; cleanup requires gloves, the spill kit, and the trained procedure — never bare hands.

  That's a bloodborne pathogens cleanup — get the spill kit, don't touch it. — Esa es limpieza de patógenos de la sangre — trae el kit de derrames, no lo toques.

• chemical burn KEM-ih-kul BURN ▶ EN
  quemadura química keh-mah-DOO-rah KEE-mee-kah ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Skin or eye damage from a strong cleaner; flush with water for 15 minutes and check the SDS for first aid.

  Stripper on bare skin is a chemical burn — rinse it now, not at break. — Decapante en la piel es quemadura química — enjuágate ya, no hasta el descanso.

• chemical gloves KEM-ih-kul GLUVZ ▶ EN
  guantes para químicos GWAHN-tehs PAH-rah KEE-mee-kohs ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Nitrile or rubber gloves worn whenever handling cleaners, strippers, or disinfectants.

  Chemical gloves on before you pour the stripper. — Ponte los guantes para químicos antes de vaciar el decapante.

  Also: guantes de hule (general)

• electrical room ee-LEK-trih-kul ROOM ▶ EN
  cuarto eléctrico KWAHR-toh eh-LEK-tree-koh ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Off-limits for wet work: no mopping, no storage against panels, three feet of clearance stays clear.

  Dust mop only in the electrical room, and nothing gets stored there. — Solo mopa seca en el cuarto eléctrico, y ahí no se guarda nada.

• emergency exit ee-MER-jen-see EG-zit ▶ EN
  salida de emergencia sah-LEE-dah deh eh-mehr-HEN-syah ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Exit routes stay clear of carts, cords, and stacked supplies — always, not just during inspections.

  Never park the cart in front of an emergency exit, not even for a minute. — Nunca dejes el carrito frente a una salida de emergencia, ni un minuto.

• eyewash station AY-wosh STAY-shun ▶ EN
  estación lavaojos es-tah-SYOHN lah-bah-OH-hohs ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Where to flush your eyes for 15 minutes after a chemical splash; know where it is before you need it.

  The eyewash station is by the janitor closet sink. — La estación lavaojos está junto al lavabo del cuarto de limpieza.

• fire extinguisher FAYR ek-STING-gwish-er ▶ EN
  extintor eks-teen-TOHR ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Know where they hang on your route; report any with a broken seal or a gauge in the red — and never block one with a cart.

  The extinguisher by the dock has no pin — report it tonight. — Al extintor del andén le falta el seguro — repórtalo hoy.

  Also: extinguidor (general)

• frayed cord FRAYD kord ▶ EN
  cable pelado KAH-bleh peh-LAH-doh ▶ ES Safety-critical

  A power cord with exposed wire; the machine comes out of service right there — tag it, don't tape it.

  That buffer has a frayed cord — tag it out and use the other one. — Esa pulidora tiene el cable pelado — etiquétala fuera de servicio y usa la otra.

• glove change GLUV chaynj ▶ EN
  cambio de guantes KAHM-byoh deh GWAHN-tehs ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Fresh gloves between dirty and clean tasks — restroom to breakroom without a change spreads what you just cleaned.

  Glove change after the restrooms, before you touch the kitchen. — Cambio de guantes después de los baños, antes de tocar la cocina.

• goggles GOG-ulz ▶ EN
  gogles GOH-glehs ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Sealed eye protection for pouring and diluting chemicals; glasses don't stop a splash from above.

  Goggles when you pour stripper, every single time. — Gogles cuando vacíes decapante, todas y cada una de las veces.

  Also: gafas de seguridad (general)

• hazard communication HAZ-erd kum-yoo-nih-KAY-shun ▶ EN
  comunicación de riesgos koh-moo-nee-kah-SYOHN deh RRYEHS-gohs ▶ ES Safety-critical

  The OSHA right-to-know program: labels, SDS access, and training on every chemical used — in a language the crew understands.

  New disinfectant means hazard communication training before anyone uses it. — Desinfectante nuevo significa capacitación de comunicación de riesgos antes de que alguien lo use.

• incident report IN-sih-dent ree-PORT ▶ EN
  reporte de incidente rreh-POHR-teh deh een-see-DEN-teh ▶ ES Safety-critical

  The written record of any injury, spill, or property damage, filed the same shift; what protects the worker and the company.

  You slipped, even if you feel fine — incident report before you clock out. — Te resbalaste, aunque te sientas bien — reporte de incidente antes de checar salida.

• label LAY-bul ▶ EN
  etiqueta eh-tee-KEH-tah ▶ ES Safety-critical

  The printed instructions on every chemical container; secondary bottles must be labeled too — an unlabeled bottle gets dumped.

  No label on that spray bottle — dump it and mix fresh. — Esa botella no tiene etiqueta — tírala y mezcla producto nuevo.

• ladder for high work LAD-er for HAY WURK ▶ EN
  escalera para lo alto es-kah-LEH-rah PAH-rah loh AHL-toh ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Anything above comfortable reach gets a stepladder — never chairs, desks, sinks, or shelves.

  Get the ladder for those vents — not the office chair. — Trae la escalera para esas rejillas — no la silla de la oficina.

• lock the closet LOK thuh KLOZ-et ▶ EN
  cierra el cuarto con llave SYEH-rrah el KWAHR-toh kohn YAH-beh ▶ ES Safety-critical

  The chemical closet stays locked — kids and the public must never reach the products.

  Lock the closet every time you step away, even for a minute. — Cierra el cuarto con llave cada vez que te alejes, aunque sea un minuto.

• lock the machine LOK thuh muh-SHEEN ▶ EN
  asegurar la máquina ah-seh-goo-RAHR lah MAH-kee-nah ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Unplug before changing pads or brushes — a rotary machine that kicks on with your hand under it takes fingers.

  Unplug it before flipping it to change the pad — always. — Desconéctala antes de voltearla para cambiar el pad — siempre.

• mold MOHLD ▶ EN
  moho MOH-oh ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Small surface mold gets cleaned with the right product and PPE; a wall or ceiling area bigger than a doormat gets reported, not scrubbed.

  That ceiling corner is solid mold — photo, report, don't disturb it. — Esa esquina del techo está llena de moho — foto, reporte, y no lo muevas.

  Also: hongos (general)

• needle stick NEE-dul stik ▶ EN
  piquete de aguja pee-KEH-teh deh ah-GOO-hah ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Getting stuck by a discarded needle; wash, report immediately, and follow the exposure protocol — it is a medical event, not an embarrassment.

  Any needle stick gets reported tonight, not tomorrow. — Cualquier piquete de aguja se reporta hoy en la noche, no mañana.

• never mix chemicals NEV-er MIKS KEM-ih-kulz ▶ EN
  nunca mezcles químicos NOON-kah MES-klehs KEE-mee-kohs ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Mixing cleaners — above all bleach with ammonia or with acid — makes toxic gas. One product at a time, rinse between.

  Never mix chemicals — bleach and bowl cleaner in the same toilet can put you in the hospital. — Nunca mezcles químicos — el cloro y el limpiador de taza en el mismo inodoro te pueden mandar al hospital.

• no eating in chemical areas noh EE-ting in KEM-ih-kul AIR-ee-uz ▶ EN
  no comer donde hay químicos noh koh-MEHR DOHN-deh ai KEE-mee-kohs ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Food and drink stay out of janitor closets and away from carts — chemicals reach mouths through hands and open cups.

  No eating in chemical areas — leave your coffee in the breakroom. — No se come donde hay químicos — deja tu café en el comedor.

• non-slip shoes non-SLIP SHOOZ ▶ EN
  zapatos antiderrapantes sah-PAH-tohs an-tee-deh-rrah-PAHN-tehs ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Slip-rated footwear; the crew works on wet floors all shift and street shoes are how ankles break.

  Non-slip shoes are part of the uniform — no exceptions on strip nights. — Los zapatos antiderrapantes son parte del uniforme — sin excepciones en noches de decapado.

• pace yourself PAYS yor-SELF ▶ EN
  a tu ritmo ah too RREET-moh ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Repetitive-motion injuries build slowly: rotate tasks, switch hands, stretch — a shoulder ruined mopping is ruined for good.

  Rotate the vacuum and the dusting between you two — pace yourselves. — Rótense la aspiradora y el sacudido entre los dos — a su ritmo.

• PPE pee-pee-EE ▶ EN
  equipo de protección eh-KEE-poh deh proh-tek-SYOHN ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Personal protective equipment — gloves, goggles, and whatever else the SDS calls for with each product.

  The label says goggles — full PPE when you dilute this one. — La etiqueta pide gogles — equipo de protección completo cuando diluyas este.

  Also: EPP (general)

• prop the door PROP thuh DOR ▶ EN
  atrancar la puerta ah-trahn-KAHR lah PWEHR-tah ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Doors get propped only while actively hauling through them, and never exterior doors at night — propped doors are how strangers get in.

  Don't prop the loading dock door while you're upstairs. — No dejes atrancada la puerta del andén mientras andas arriba.

• SDS es-dee-ES ▶ EN
  hoja de datos de seguridad OH-hah deh DAH-tohs deh seh-goo-ree-DAHD ▶ ES Safety-critical

  The Safety Data Sheet for each chemical — what's in it, what it does to you, and first aid; the binder must be where the crew can reach it.

  It got in his eye — grab the SDS for the stripper and call it in. — Le cayó en el ojo — agarra la hoja de datos de seguridad del decapante y repórtalo.

  Also: hoja de seguridad, SDS (general)

• security badge seh-KYUR-ih-tee BAJ ▶ EN
  gafete gah-FEH-teh ▶ ES Safety-critical

  The access credential worn visibly in client buildings; lost badges get reported the same day.

  Badge on and visible the whole shift — security will stop you without it. — Gafete puesto y visible todo el turno — sin él te para seguridad.

  Also: credencial (general)

• sharps container SHARPS kun-TAY-ner ▶ EN
  contenedor de punzocortantes kohn-teh-neh-DOHR deh poon-soh-kohr-TAHN-tehs ▶ ES Safety-critical

  The rigid red box for needles and blades; filled ones get sealed and handled per the building's protocol.

  Needles go in the sharps container with tongs, never by hand. — Las agujas van al contenedor de punzocortantes con pinzas, nunca con la mano.

• slip hazard SLIP HAZ-erd ▶ EN
  peligro de resbalón peh-LEE-groh deh rres-bah-LOHN ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Anything that makes the floor slick — water, stripper, wax, spilled product; sign it, block it, dry it.

  That entry is a slip hazard when it rains — mat it and keep a sign out. — Esa entrada es un peligro de resbalón cuando llueve — ponle tapete y deja el letrero.

• spill kit SPIL kit ▶ EN
  kit de derrames KEET deh deh-RRAH-mehs ▶ ES Safety-critical

  The absorbents, gloves, and bags staged for chemical and body-fluid spills; know where it lives in every building.

  Grab the spill kit for that mess by the elevator — not the good mop. — Trae el kit de derrames para eso del elevador — no el trapeador bueno.

• strange smell or leak STRAYNJ SMEL or LEEK ▶ EN
  olor raro o fuga oh-LOHR RRAH-roh oh FOO-gah ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Gas smell, water where it shouldn't be, alarms beeping — call the emergency contact for the building; you are the only one there at night.

  Strange smell or leak, you call the number on the closet door — that's why it's posted. — Olor raro o fuga, llamas al número de la puerta del cuarto — para eso está pegado.

• toxic fumes TOK-sik FYOOMZ ▶ EN
  gases tóxicos GAH-sehs TOK-see-kohs ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Gases from strong or mixed chemicals; dizziness, coughing, or a chlorine smell means get out and get air.

  If you smell toxic fumes in the restroom, out the door first, questions after. — Si hueles gases tóxicos en el baño, primero sal y después preguntas.

• two hands on the rail TOO handz on thuh RAYL ▶ EN
  agárrate del barandal ah-GAH-rrah-teh del bah-rahn-DAHL ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Stairs with a loaded cart or bucket: use the elevator, or make two trips with a hand on the rail — falls on stairs end careers.

  Don't carry the bucket down the stairs full — split it and keep a hand on the rail. — No bajes la cubeta llena por la escalera — divídela y agárrate del barandal.

• ventilation ven-tih-LAY-shun ▶ EN
  ventilación ben-tee-lah-SYOHN ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Moving air through the space while strong chemicals are in use — doors open, fans running.

  That stripper needs ventilation — prop the doors and set a fan. — Ese decapante necesita ventilación — atranca las puertas abiertas y pon un ventilador.

• wash your hands WOSH yor HANDZ ▶ EN
  lávate las manos LAH-bah-teh lahs MAH-nohs ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Soap and water after gloves come off, before eating, and at end of shift — gloves are not a substitute.

  Wash your hands before lunch — gloves or no gloves. — Lávate las manos antes del lonche — con guantes o sin guantes.

• wet floor sign WET FLOR sayn ▶ EN
  letrero de piso mojado leh-TREH-roh deh PEE-soh moh-HAH-doh ▶ ES Safety-critical

  The folding yellow sign that goes up before any mopping or stripping starts and stays until the floor is dry.

  Wet floor signs at both ends of the hallway before you start mopping. — Letreros de piso mojado en los dos extremos del pasillo antes de empezar a trapear.

  Also: señal de precaución (general)

• wet floor takes the long way WET flor tayks thuh LAWNG way ▶ EN
  por el piso mojado no se cruza pohr el PEE-soh moh-HAH-doh noh seh KROO-sah ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Nobody — crew included — walks a freshly mopped or waxed floor; plan the exit path before the floor is wet.

  Mop toward the door — the wet floor takes the long way around. — Trapea hacia la puerta — por el piso mojado no se cruza, se rodea.

• wet hands off outlets WET handz AWF OWT-lets ▶ EN
  manos mojadas lejos de los contactos MAH-nohs moh-HAH-dahs LEH-hohs deh lohs kohn-TAK-tohs ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Water and electricity: dry your hands before plugging machines in, and never run cords through puddles.

  Dry off before you plug in the burnisher — wet hands off outlets. — Sécate antes de conectar la abrillantadora — manos mojadas lejos de los contactos.

• working alone WUR-king uh-LOHN ▶ EN
  trabajar solo trah-bah-HAHR SOH-loh ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Night crews often work buildings alone: phone charged, doors locked behind you, check-in calls on schedule.

  Working alone tonight — text the group when you start and when you lock up. — Trabajas solo hoy — manda mensaje al grupo cuando empieces y cuando cierres.

• wring toward the drain RING toh-ward thuh DRAYN ▶ EN
  exprimir hacia el drenaje eks-pree-MEER AH-syah el dreh-NAH-heh ▶ ES Safety-critical

  Dump mop water in the floor sink or mop sink only — never a hand sink, never a storm drain outside.

  Mop water goes in the mop sink — the storm drain outside goes to the river. — El agua del trapeador va a la tarja del cuarto de limpieza — la coladera de afuera va al río.

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