Bridging the ergonomics gap

RESEARCH INVOLVING around 1200 UK cleaners found that 74% had experienced muscular aches, pain or discomfort during the previous 12 months, while 23% had been absent from work because of it. The findings reflect the wider impact of musculoskeletal disorders across the workforce. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), musculoskeletal disorders were the third leading cause of sickness absence in the UK in 2025, while Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures show that work-related musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 7.1 million lost working days in 2024/25.

For the cleaning sector, where physically demanding work is part of daily operations, these figures highlight the importance of understanding the factors that contribute to physical strain.

When businesses look at ways to reduce musculoskeletal risk, attention often turns to training, workplace procedures and safe systems of work. These are all important, but far less scrutiny is given to the equipment operatives use every day and the influence it can have on how physically demanding a task becomes. Recognising this, Nilfisk has adopted an ergonomic-led design strategy across all product development plans, ensuring that reducing operator strain and improving usability are considered from the earliest stages of equipment design.

Equipment can affect how much force is required to complete routine work, how frequently awkward movements are repeated and how physical strain builds over the course of a shift. This is a significant issue across the contract cleaning and facilities management sector, where musculoskeletal disorders remain one of the leading causes of work-related ill health and lost working days. According to the Health and Safety Executive, 543,000 workers suffered from work-related musculoskeletal disorders in 2023/24, with repetitive movements, manual handling and awkward postures among the most common causes. As a result, equipment design should be considered as part of a broader approach to supporting safer and more sustainable ways of working.

The role equipment plays in physical strain

Training remains an important part of reducing workplace risk, but it cannot address every source of physical strain. An operative can understand the correct manual handling techniques and still spend hours working with equipment that is difficult to manoeuvre or encourages uncomfortable working positions.

This is particularly relevant in industrial cleaning environments, where operatives may spend long periods moving vacuum equipment across heavy-use areas. When equipment does not support natural movement, the body often compensates. An operator may lean into the machine, grip more tightly or rely more heavily on their back and shoulders to generate force.

The impact may not be obvious straight away. Unlike slips, trips or falls, musculoskeletal injuries often develop gradually. There is rarely a single moment when the injury occurs. Physical strain can build through repeated movements, awkward positioning and low-level exertion over time.

This is why equipment design matters. A machine may complete the required task and still place unnecessary strain on the person using it. Equipment that moves smoothly and responds predictably can help the job be completed more comfortably and safely.

The physical reality of cleaning work

Cleaning work often involves repeated movement, physical effort and prolonged equipment use across large sites, production areas and other demanding environments. Time pressures can add further demands, increasing the amount of physical effort required throughout a working day. Over time, this combination of movement, force and repetition can increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. 

Equipment that is difficult to handle can add to those demands. Excessive pushing, pulling, lifting or steering forces can increase fatigue, particularly when repeated over long periods. Even relatively small design issues can become significant when multiplied across an entire shift.

This is particularly relevant given the profile of the workforce. The British Cleaning Council found that 29% of staff in the cleaning, hygiene and waste sector are aged over 55, compared with 24% across the wider economy. For many experienced operatives, years of repetitive and physically demanding work can take a toll on the body. Ergonomic equipment that reduces unnecessary strain can therefore help support worker wellbeing and enable experienced employees to continue working safely and comfortably.

Designing with the operator in mind

Good design is reflected in how naturally a machine fits into the task. This principle sits at the heart of Nilfisk’s design strategy, which places operator usability, ergonomics and practical day-to-day performance at the centre of product development. Equipment that is intuitive to operate requires less time spent figuring out controls and more time focused on cleaning tasks. Clear interfaces, well-positioned controls and straightforward operation can all help reduce complexity.

Machines that move smoothly through tighter spaces or busy environments can reduce the effort needed to complete routine tasks. Features such as balanced weight distribution, ergonomic touchpoints and comfortable handle positioning can also make equipment easier to manoeuvre throughout a shift.

Good ergonomic design also extends to routine maintenance. Tasks such as changing batteries, emptying waste containers or replacing consumables should be straightforward and require as little physical effort as possible. If maintenance is difficult or disruptive, equipment can quickly become harder to use in practice, even if it performs well in principle.

For employers, this matters operationally as well as from a safety perspective. When equipment makes the job harder than it needs to be, performance and wellbeing can both be affected. A well-designedmachine can support safer, more consistent work without creating unnecessary workarounds.

Supporting a more sustainable workforce

Making physically demanding roles more sustainable is becoming increasingly important as the workforce ages. Equipment that reduces unnecessary strain can help experienced operatives remain comfortable and productive for longer, supporting both worker wellbeing and operational continuity.

Operator-focused design can also help make physically demanding roles more accessible to a wider range of employees. While ergonomics alone will not solve workforce challenges, the day-to-day experience of work should not be overlooked. Equipment that is comfortable, intuitive and less physically demanding can contribute to a working environment that people are better able to sustain over the long term.

Ergonomics should be part of every buying decision

This should all influence how businesses think about equipment selection. When organisations invest in cleaning equipment, performance, compliance and cost are usually the starting points. These factors matter, but they do not show how a machine will feel after several hours of use.

A machine may meet the technical requirements of a site and still require more physical effort to use than necessary. This is why ergonomics should be considered during procurement. Businesses should look at how a machine will be used day to day, who will be using it and whether it supports safe, efficient working overtime.

Trialling equipment in real working environments can help with this. Feedback from operators is also important, particularly when assessing how a machine handles during longer periods of use. The strongest procurement decisions balance cleaning performance with usability, recognising that the two are closely linked.

Making ergonomics a priority

The physical demands of cleaning are unlikely to disappear, but the way businesses respond to them can change. If equipment design is treated as an afterthought, organisations risk overlooking one of the factors that shape how safely and comfortably operatives can work each day.

Training, safe systems of work and manual handling guidance will always have an important role to play. However, they cannot compensate for equipment that creates unnecessary physical demands in the first place.

Making ergonomics a priority means looking beyond whether a machine can complete the task and considering how it supports the person using it. In a sector facing musculoskeletal risks, labour pressures and an ageing workforce, better equipment design helps to reduce unnecessary strain and create working environments where people are better supported over the long term.

Gary Matthews is commercial product manager at Nilfisk

For more information, visit www.nilfisk.com/en-gb/