Mardi Gras beads hanging on a fence


A labor campaign to provide personal protection equipment (PPE) for the Mardi Gras clean-up crew is being implemented in New Orleans. According to the New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice (NOWCRJ), a mix of frontline staff from the city’s Sanitation Department and contracted cleaners are asked to maintain the parade routes without proper PPE. These safety concerns amounted to volunteers within the labor organization offering adequate training on workers’ rights and providing PPE to these essential employees.

When one imagines the festivities of Mardi Gras, visions of colorful beads, elaborate floats, and endless music may come to mind. However, people may forget that this elaborate celebration results in an estimated 1,123 tons of trash per year. To mitigate this mess, the Louisiana Illuminator reports that 200 to 500 cleaners working 10-hour shifts are employed by the Mayor’s Office. These new findings by NOWCRJ underscore the importance of training staff members and safeguarding their well-being.

Commercial cleaning executives have an obligation to provide frontline staff with effective protocols and tools that enhance operations and overall safety. PPE tailored to the cleaning task—including gloves, masks, boot covers, aprons, and more—can minimize exposure to harmful pathogens and/or particulate matter. Moreover, when cleaning teams are provided with comprehensive training programs that outline responsibilities and rationale, the risk of workplace injury is reduced.