Highlights
- Healthcare workers are routinely exposed to disinfectant chemicals during daily cleaning
- Research links repeated exposure to certain cleaning agents with respiratory and skin irritation
- Hospitals must balance infection control with staff safety in occupied spaces
- Scent-free, low-toxicity disinfectants reduce irritation without reducing efficacy
- Simpler cleaning protocols improve compliance and staff wellbeing
- Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) offers hospital-grade disinfection with fewer drawbacks
Why Chemical Exposure Is a Growing Risk for Healthcare Workers
Hospitals and clinics depend on rigorous disinfection to protect patients. However, the same products used to control pathogens are also applied repeatedly by the same people—often in enclosed, occupied environments.
In healthcare settings, frontline staff may experience frequent chemical exposure from disinfectants such as bleach, quaternary ammonium compounds (quats), and other irritant agents. Over time, repeated exposure has been associated in the scientific literature with respiratory irritation, dermatitis, and increased risk of work-related or occupational asthma among healthcare workers. See Cleaning Agents and Asthma and Occupational Risk Factors for Asthma. Protecting healthcare worker safety therefore requires not only effective infection control, but careful consideration of the chemicals used to achieve it.
Looking to reduce chemical exposure for frontline staff without compromising infection control? Explore CleanSmart’s School & Workplace Collection, including the 1 L Surface Cleaner & Disinfectant, designed for use in occupied healthcare settings.
Chemical Exposure Risks for Frontline Healthcare Workers
Cleaning and disinfection tasks are among the most frequently performed activities in hospitals. Environmental services teams, nurses, and clinical staff may apply disinfectants dozens of times per shift, often with limited ventilation.
Multiple peer-reviewed studies have identified healthcare workers—particularly nurses and cleaners—as higher-risk occupational groups for work-induced asthma and respiratory symptoms linked to cleaning agents. See Work Related Asthma Associated with Cleaning Agents. These risks are associated not with a single exposure event, but with cumulative, repeated contact over time.
While disinfectants remain essential for infection prevention, the occupational health implications of chronic exposure are increasingly recognized as a workplace safety concern.
Why Healthcare Settings Are Especially Vulnerable
Unlike many commercial environments, healthcare facilities are continuously occupied. Disinfection occurs:
- Between patient visits
- During active care
- In shared clinical, administrative, and support spaces
As a result, staff are often present during or immediately after cleaning. Strong odours and airborne residues can affect breathing comfort and concentration, particularly for workers with existing sensitivities. Studies of nurses and healthcare workers have shown higher prevalence of asthma compared to general working populations, with cleaning agents identified as a contributing factor. See Occupational Risk Factors for Asthma. Reducing unnecessary exposure is therefore an important component of protecting healthcare worker safety, alongside established infection-control practices.
What to Look for in Safer Hospital Disinfectants
When evaluating disinfectants for healthcare settings, decision-makers should look beyond efficacy alone. Safer products typically share the following characteristics:
- Broad-spectrum antimicrobial performance
- Suitability for frequent, repeated use
- Minimal fumes or odour
- No sticky or hazardous residues
- Compatibility with sensitive medical equipment
- Health Canada regulatory approval
Many hospitals now prioritize scent-free disinfectant options as part of broader occupational health and safety strategies.
Where to Find Workplace-Safe Cleaning Products
Healthcare facilities increasingly source disinfectants online to ensure consistency, compliance documentation, and supply reliability. When evaluating suppliers, procurement teams should look for transparency around efficacy testing, regulatory status, and suitability for occupied environments.
Hypochlorous acid–based disinfectants are one option gaining attention in healthcare settings because they deliver effective disinfection while reducing exposure to harsh chemical irritants. CleanSmart’s HOCl formulations are designed to support infection control while aligning with worker safety priorities.
How HOCl Supports Healthcare Worker Safety
Hypochlorous acid is a compound naturally produced by the human immune system to neutralize pathogens. When properly manufactured and stabilized, HOCl provides effective antimicrobial action without the strong odours or residues associated with many traditional disinfectants.
For hospitals and clinics, this can translate into:
- Reduced respiratory irritation for staff
- Improved comfort in occupied spaces
- Simplified training and handling requirements
These characteristics make HOCl particularly suitable for environments where disinfection must occur frequently and safely.
Moving Toward Safer Disinfection in Healthcare Settings
Protecting patients and protecting staff are not competing priorities. Evidence shows that healthcare workers face measurable occupational risks from repeated exposure to certain cleaning agents. See Cleaning Agents and Asthma and Work Related Asthma Associated with Cleaning Agents. By selecting disinfectants that are both effective and low-toxicity, healthcare facilities can reduce chemical exposure while maintaining high hygiene standards.
This approach supports safer working conditions, improved staff retention, and more sustainable cleaning practices—without compromising infection control.
If you require guidance for your facility, please Contact Us and our team will be happy to assist.
Browse our School & Workplace Collection or explore the 1 L Surface Cleaner & Disinfectant to support safer cleaning protocols in healthcare environments.
Frequently Asked Questions: Healthcare Worker Safety & Disinfectants
Q1. Do safer disinfectants still meet hospital infection-control standards?
A. Yes. Products approved by Health Canada must meet the same efficacy criteria as other registered disinfectants, regardless of formulation.
Q2. Can disinfectants contribute to occupational asthma?
A. Research has identified associations between repeated exposure to certain cleaning agents and increased risk of work-related asthma among healthcare workers. See Occupational Risk Factors for Asthma.
Q3. Are scent-free disinfectants effective?
A. When properly formulated and approved, scent-free disinfectants can deliver effective disinfection while reducing irritation in occupied spaces.
Sources
- Quirce S, Barranco P. Cleaning Agents and Asthma
- Mirabelli MC et al. Occupational Risk Factors for Asthma Among Nurses
- Mwanga H, Jeebhay M. Work-Related Asthma Associated with Cleaning Agents in Healthcare