In some workplaces, good housekeeping tends to fall at the end of the priority list for both management and employees. But that’s a problem because there is a direct correlation between a clean, neat, well-organized workplace and a safe healthy one.
Good, safe housekeeping doesn’t just happen. Nor is it something you can do once a month and forget about. It’s a daily mission that must be tackled with energy, focus, and purpose. You have to plan for it, involve employees in it, and sustain it. But if you do, the rewards are substantial—fewer accidents, greater productivity, and a more pleasant, healthy place for all to work.
“Poor housekeeping can frequently contribute to accidents by hiding hazards that cause injuries,” according to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety (CCOHS). “If the sight of paper, debris, clutter and spills is accepted as normal, then other, more serious health and safety hazards may be taken for granted.”
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Focus Your Program
CCOHS highlights these essentials of an effective housekeeping program:
- Regular dirt and dust removal
- Adequate employee facilities, such as wash rooms and locker rooms
- Proper maintenance of walking and working surfaces
- Maintenance of lighting fixtures
- Attention to aisles and stairways to make sure they are kept clear
- Spill control
- Proper storage of tools and equipment
- Effective waste disposal
- Organizing and cleaning storage areas
In addition, CCOHS says that the maintenance of buildings and equipment may be the most important element of good housekeeping.
“Maintenance involves keeping buildings, equipment and machinery in safe, efficient working order and in good repair.” This includes maintaining sanitary facilities, regularly painting and cleaning walls, and fixing broken windows, damaged doors, defective plumbing, and damaged floor surfaces.
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Reap the Benefits
One of the toughest jobs you face in implementing an effective workplace housekeeping program is selling employees on its benefits. But the benefits are many, so try sharing these with your workers:
- Fewer accidents and injuries
- Fewer fire hazards
- Fewer slip, trip, and fall hazards
- Reduced exposure to hazardous substances
- Improved efficiency and productivity
- More efficient equipment cleanup and maintenance
- Better control of tools and materials, including inventory and supplies
- Reduced handling to ease the flow of materials
- Better hygienic conditions leading to improved health
- More effective use of space
To achieve these benefits regularly, CCOHS suggests integrating housekeeping responsibilities into employees’ jobs. This helps ensure that these duties are faithfully fulfilled.
An effective housekeeping program identifies and assigns responsibilities for:
- General workstation cleanup during and at the end of each shift
- Daily housekeeping duties for the entire work area
- Removal of scrap and unused materials
- Proper storage of tools, materials, etc.
- Inspection to ensure housekeeping duties are completed and done properly
Tomorrow, we’ll explore workplace housekeeping in more detail and tell you more about how Safety Audit Checklists can help you achieve a safe, healthy, and orderly workplace.
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