‘The lavatory waste comes on us’: unsafe, unsanitary work conditions, airport workers claim

Swissport USA employees also allege ground services firm violates sick leave policy and retaliates against those who speak out

These days Omar Rodriguez, a ramp worker and cabin cleaner at LaGuardia airport in New York, dreads cleaning planes – especially the toilets.

The 19-year-old works for Swissport USA, which services Spirit Airlines and Air Canada at LaGuardia, and claims that faulty equipment used for cleaning airplane lavatories often results in workers getting sprayed with human waste. When it happens, he said, workers are expected to continue cleaning the airplane cabins without being provided time or products to properly clean themselves.