The Top 10 Worst Cleaning Jobs in Canada

The Top 10 Worst Cleaning Jobs in Canada in 2024

February 16, 2024

Dirty jobs are quite unpleasant to work but are essential for a healthy society. Some people may not appreciate the risks involved. They get upset when they see something not cleaned without realizing how difficult it can be. Let's take a look at a few of the worst cleaning jobs in Canada in 2024.

10. Exhaust Duct Cleaner

An exhaust duct cleaner helps prevent fires and building air quality by maintaining and cleaning a duct system. They also make sure the system remains in compliance with local and federal health and safety regulations. This is especially important in restaurants or other places that have a lot of grease accumulated.

They sometimes have to enter the ducts, which anyone who has seen an action movie can tell you is very small and quite unpleasant. They also come into contact with harsh chemicals, bacteria, mold, and other things that can cause respiratory or other physical damage.

9. Septic Tank Servicer

Septic tank servicing is an extremely dirty job, coming into close contact with human waste. They must work both indoors and outside to pump septic tanks, effect repairs, and inspect damage.

Dirty jobs like this often involve contact with feces and they expose workers to awful odours, bacteria, and other potential contaminants. It's also a very physical job that involves digging and heavy lifting, especially in small, confined, and uncomfortable spaces.

8. Animal Shelter Cleaner

Cleaning jobs can be dangerous in general but animal shelter cleaners are especially at risk. Not only do they clean animal feces and urine, but they also have to wear protective gear to prevent an angry animal from biting or scratching them. They also spend a lot of time disinfecting and sanitizing, putting them in contact with harsh chemicals.

Dealing with animals, especially those that are stray or feral, can be very dangerous. They also come into contact with animal waste, chemicals, and cleaners that can irritate the skin or lungs.

7. Mold Remediator

A mold remediator visits buildings to investigate and identify whether or not any harmful mold is present in ceilings, floors, basements, and other locations. They then use equipment, including potentially dangerous chemicals, to remove it and repair the part of the home in which it was found. They also spend a lot of time near black mold, which is especially toxic.

They wear full-body protective gear, including respirator masks, to prevent them from inhaling the toxins produced. If they accidentally come into contact with the mold at any point, it can cause breathing problems or other health risks. Even small amounts of exposure can build up over time and present serious issues as they age.

6. Garbage Collector

Speaking of dirty jobs, garbage collectors have seen and smelled just about everything you can imagine. They drive trucks to homes and businesses to pick up garbage and sort recyclables, which requires great physical strength and a strong constitution. As an outdoor job, they also have to endure terrible weather conditions.

Not only do they go around smelling garbage all day but they're also susceptible to repetitive strain injuries and other physical issues due to all the heavy lifting they have to do. As not everyone disposes of their hazardous materials properly, they're also exposed to potential toxins, harmful chemicals, contaminated needles, and other potentially dangerous items.

5. High-Rise Window Cleaner

Most people have cleaned windows on the ground floor, but cleaning the windows of a much taller building can put yourself in a dangerous situation. They're the ones you see up on the scaffolding or scissor lifts, potentially 100 or more feet in the air, cleaning the windows. They have to work, rain or shine, strapped into safety harnesses and ropes to make sure they're secure if something goes wrong.

The work can be extremely dangerous, even with the right safety precautions. A fall from these heights can be serious or even deadly. If they're not physically fit or have enough endurance, they could get tired easily, causing an accident or making a mistake. They also have to work in snow, hail, rain, or other types of bad weather that could make it easier for them to slip.

4. Hospital Sanitation Worker

Hospitals employ specially trained sanitation workers to disinfect patient rooms, operating theaters, waiting rooms, and nearly every other location. This often involves cleaning up blood or other bodily fluids, which puts them at high risk for infection. They're constantly around patients who are sick, suffering, and in great pain, which takes an emotional toll in addition to the physical one.

Although these professionals wear personal protective gear and other means of protecting themselves, it is by no means a clean job. One drop of contaminated blood in the eyes, a cut on the finger, or the ear, among other places, can cause serious infection, disease, or even death.

3. Hazardous Waste Cleaner

Hazardous waste cleaners collect, transport, and dispose of hazardous waste materials like paint, poisons, toxins, chemicals, and other items not suited for standard garbage disposal. They work in a variety of settings, including pickup centers, factories, and other locations where hazardous chemicals might be found.

When most people make a mistake at work, they might get yelled at by their boss. If a hazardous waste cleaner makes a mistake or has a nasty accident, they could be dead within minutes. That is why they must undergo many hours of specialized training to make sure no mistakes take place. Granted, they wear full hazmat suits to reduce contamination but the risk is always present.

2. Crime Scene Cleaner

A crime scene cleaner is a professional trained to visit scenes of accidents, crimes, and deaths to clean and sanitize the affected areas. This almost invariably involves removing hazardous materials, cleaning up blood and/or other bodily fluids, removing odors, disinfecting surfaces, and ensuring that anything contaminated is disposed of properly. They work in both public and private spaces, including inside and outdoors.

These cleaning jobs can be very dangerous, both mentally and physically. It can involve cleaning up infectious or hazardous bodily fluids that pose the danger of contamination. In addition to the physical risks, they must also navigate the mental strain of constantly being surrounded by death.

1. Sewer Cleaner

Sewer cleaners are the maintenance workers whose job requires them to make sure sewer lines are properly cleaned and maintained. By using high-pressure jets, as well as remove any blockages, they ensure that the system functions properly and that the highest possible levels of sanitation are upheld.

In addition to having to deal with the smell, their work is often in an underground, confined space where they could be trapped or injured. They must wear uncomfortable waterproof personal protective equipment and large boots constantly. They're exposed to potential disease, infections (bacterial and viral), hazardous chemicals, and physical injury.

Final Reflections: Valuing the Essential Workers Behind Canada's Toughest Cleaning Tasks in 2024

Instead of taking them for granted or feeling annoyed when work isn't completed perfectly and immediately, we should all do our best to recognize and appreciate the hard work and dedication of these employees, many of whom put their lives on the line every day for their country and their community.

Luxoclean Professional Home Cleaning Services

Cleaning your home may not be the worst job out there, but it can still be a tedious and time-consuming task that requires constant effort to maintain. Why not consider hiring a professional house cleaner like Luxoclean, not only do they possess the expertise to tackle every corner, but they also free up your time, allowing you to focus on other important life priorities. Contact Luxoclean today and take the first step towards a cleaner home.