Basic Guide to Housekeeping 1

WHY SHOULD WE PAY ATTENTION TO HOUSEKEEPING AT WORK?

Effective housekeeping - eliminate some workplace hazards and help get a job done safely and properly; ongoing operation: it is not a hit-and-miss cleanup done occasionally; Periodic "panic" cleanups are costly and ineffective in reducing accidents; basic part of accident and fire prevention.

Poor housekeeping - Frequently contribute to accidents by hiding hazards that cause injuries. 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. 

Housekeeping is not just cleanliness - Includes keeping work areas neat and orderly; maintaining halls and floors free of slip and trip hazards; and removing of waste materials (e.g., paper, cardboard) and other fire hazards from work areas; Requires paying attention to important details such as the layout of the whole workplace, aisle marking, the adequacy of storage facilities, and maintenance. 

What is the purpose of workplace housekeeping? 

Poor housekeeping can be a cause of accidents, such as: 

- Tripping over loose objects on floors, stairs and platforms.

- Being hit by falling objects.

- Slipping on greasy, wet or dirty surfaces.

- Striking against projecting, poorly stacked items or misplaces material.

- Cutting, puncturing, or tearing the skin of hands or other parts of the body on projecting nails, wire or steel strapping.

To avoid these hazards, a workplace must "maintain" order throughout a workday. Although this effort requires a great deal of management and planning, the benefits are many.
 

What are some benefits of good housekeeping practices? 

Effective housekeeping results in: 

- Reduced handling to ease the flow of materials

- Fewer tripping and slipping accidents in clutter-free and spill-free work areas

- Decrease fire hazards

- Lower worker exposures to hazardous substances

- Better control of tools and materials, including inventory and supplies

- More efficient equipment cleanup and maintenance

- Better hygienic conditions leading to improved health 

- More effective use of space

- Reduced property damage  by improving preventive maintainence

- Less janitorial work

- Improved morale

- Improved productivity (tools and materials are easy to find)