Custodians

The term custodian has multiple meanings however when we speak of custodians, we are referring to custodial work normally handled by cleaning workers such as janitors. A custodian is in charge of cleaning and maintaining a building. Custodial workers can be responsible for cleaning restrooms, facility floors, carpets, and surfaces. A custodian can also be responsible for emptying all trash and recycling bins. While cleaning is a large responsibility for custodians, maintenance is also a large duty. A custodian can be responsible for a wide array of maintenance responsibilities which include fixing faucets, painting, simple carpentry, and even maintaining the building's surrounding landscaping. Some custodians can even be responsible for inventory and making sure that there are ample cleaning supplies and tools needed to perform their tasks.

Custodians can work in a variety of buildings which include schools, hotels, hospitals, and office buildings. They can be directly employed by the building owner, tenant, or an outside custodial company. In larger buildings, custodians can work in teams and break the responsibilities among them to be more efficient. All of these teams are normally supervised by a Custodial Supervisor to ensure effectiveness and efficiency. Many custodial workers need to work evenings and early mornings so that they can work in a less crowded environment when the building is not heavily occupied. There are also certain scenarios where custodial workers need to be on the job when the building is operating during normal business hours. This scenario includes schools when it is imperative that a custodian is on site to take care of any needed real-time cleaning and maintenance.

In 2006, there were over 4 million building cleaning workers in the United States. Of these workers, over 50 percent were janitors and custodians and held approximately 2.4 million jobs. Of this group, approximately 30 percent worked for firms that contract out custodial services and another 20 percent worked directly for educational facilities. Over the next ten years, building cleaning workers is projected to grow faster than the majority of occupations in the United States. Custodial workers including janitors and cleaners are projected to hold over 2.7 million jobs by 2016.

Custodians have faced asbestos exposure since building materials contained asbestos in its manufacturing. Asbestos was used in the manufacturing of building materials for its heat resistant properties and insulation characteristics. Thousands of buildings across the United States used building materials containing asbestos in the initial construction until the hazards of the contaminant were well known. A custodian could come into direct contact with asbestos and asbestos fibers while performing regular maintenance on the building in which he or she worked. For example, asbestos was used in the construction of ceiling tiles. If a ceiling tile was damaged, a custodian would most likely be the first person called to remove the damaged ceiling tile and clean up the broken fragments. Asbestos fibers could become released when the tile was damaged and unknowingly inhaled by the custodian. Unfortunately, the custodian might not be the only one that could be contaminated. While dealing directly with asbestos containing products such as older ceiling tiles, asbestos could potentially have become trapped in the custodian's clothing and then transferred to other co-workers, friends, or family.

As mentioned above, approximately 20 percent of custodians employed in 2006 were working in educational facilities and schools. Schools across the country have been identified as containing asbestos materials in its construction. Asbestos had been considered to be a great material to use in the construction of schools because of its fire and heat resistance. Schools across the country, including our state of New Jersey have had to create asbestos removal programs.

Newark, New Jersey, located in Essex County, was hit hard with asbestos problems in its schools. In 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency had fined Newark Public Schools for violations of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). The city and the EPA ended up reaching a settlement in which the school systems had to spend over $2 million dollars to clean up the asbestos problems. Asbury Park, which is located in Monmouth County New Jersey, has also seen asbestos problems in its schools. In the summer of 2007, an Asbury Park elementary school found a wall plaster material containing asbestos which led to the school being closed until the asbestos problem was eradicated.

Many buildings across the country have completed their asbestos cleaning programs; however it has become too late for many custodians that have already been exposed to the disease causing contaminant. Numerous custodians that have been diagnosed with asbestos related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma have brought litigation against the facilities in which they worked as well as their employers. There are still a number of buildings in existence today that still contain asbestos and might not be aware of the situation. Custodians in these buildings must be aware of the hazards that they face and use all precautions necessary to protect themselves against potential asbestos exposure. If a custodian feels that he or she has been exposed to an asbestos product, he or she must seek immediate medical attention and also come to understand his or her legal rights by consulting with an experienced asbestos lawyer.