Effective Housekeeping for Safety
Good housekeeping implies that a workplace is kept organized, uncluttered and hazard free. The role of housekeeping in influencing positive safety culture and work practices is often under appreciated. It is not just about cleanliness, it lays the foundation for accident and fire prevention and requires attention to detail such as the layout of the worksite or facility, identification and marking of the physical hazards, availability of resources, ensuring there is adequate storage facilities, and routine maintenance.
Why is good housekeeping important?
- Reduces slips and trips.
- Eliminates fire hazards.
- Ensures safe emergency evacuation of occupants when required
- Reduces workers exposure to hazardous
- Improves worker’s health through regular cleaning and supplying of sanitation facilities.
- Safe work environment leads to healthier worker and higher worker morale.
- Workplace clean-up and maintenance ensures better control over tools and materials as well as inventory of materials.
- Tidy and clean work areas allow for more effective use of space.
Housekeeping Guidelines:
- Keep use and storage of flammables and combustibles to a minimum.
- Work areas, aisles, walkways, stairways, emergency exits points, fire points and equipment should be kept clear of loose materials, and free from obstructions.
- Avoid build-up of combustible and waste such as paper, wood, cardboard, etc.
- Clean up all spills such as grease, oil, or water immediately. Place tools, equipment and supplies in their correct places.
- Remove protruding objects such as nails, spikes, wire or other sharp points.
- Keep workbenches and stations free from items that are not being used or worked on at present.
- Place oily rags in the metal containers provided.
- Paper cups, plates, and lunch debris, including trash must be thrown in the appropriate trash cans.
- Smoking must be done in designated zones and the cigarette butts must be disposed of appropriately
- Storage must not exceed a plane of 0.5 metres below sprinkler heads and smoke detectors.
- All storage must be at least 1 metre. from electrical panels. Maintain at least a 3ft clearance from heating surfaces, air ducts, heaters, and lighting fixtures.
Good Housekeeping Practices:
- Do not walk past a hazard or negative situation. Take immediate action.
- Assign and hold accountability for housekeeping.
- Undertake regular housekeeping audits.
- Make it everyone’s responsibility.
- At the end of each task housekeeping must be undertaken.
- Eating, drinking and smoking in designated areas.
- Remove what you are not using.
- All doors and drawers must be kept closed.
- Dispose waste in designated bins or processes.
- Tools and equipment must be cleaned after use.
- Allocate team housekeeping schedules.
- Keep fire extinguishers clean, visible and readily accessible.
- Ensure all substances are clearly labelled.
Good housekeeping plays a part in preventing workplace incidents and injuries. It is everyone’s responsibility. It applies to all environments including offices, factories, banks, homes, hotels or any other business premises.
If you would like to know more, contact us at Fanira. We are here to help.