Workplace Housekeeping

Why should we pay attention to housekeeping at work?

Effective housekeeping can eliminate some workplace hazards and help get a job done safely and properly. Poor housekeeping can 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. It 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. It also requires paying attention to important details such as the layout of the whole workplace, aisle marking, the adequacy of storage facilities, and maintenance. Good housekeeping is also a basic part of accident and fire prevention.

Effective housekeeping is an ongoing operation. By keeping the work area consistently tidy can show the company are serious about keeping employees and others safe. Periodic “panic” clean ups are costly and ineffective in reducing accidents.

What is the purpose of workplace housekeeping?

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

1. tripping over loose objects on floors, stairs and platforms
2. being hit by falling objects
3. slipping on greasy, wet or dirty surfaces
4. striking against projecting, poorly stacked items or misplaced material
5. 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 the working day.

What are some benefits of good housekeeping practices?

Effective housekeeping results in:

1. reduced handling to ease the flow of materials
2. fewer tripping and slipping accidents in clutter-free and spill-free work areas
3. decreased fire hazards
4. lower worker exposures to hazardous substances
5. better control of tools and materials
6. more efficient equipment clean up and maintenance
7. better hygienic conditions leading to improved health
8. more effective use of space
9. reduced property damage by improving preventive maintenance
10. less janitorial work
11. improved morale

How do I plan a good housekeeping program?

A good housekeeping program plans and manages the orderly storage and movement of materials from point of entry to exit. The plan also ensures that work areas are not used as storage areas by having workers move materials to and from work areas as needed.

Housekeeping order is maintained not achieved. This means removing the inevitable messes that occur from time to time and not waiting until the end of the shift to reorganize and clean up.  A good housekeeping program identifies and assigns responsibilities for the following:

1. clean up during the shift
2. day-to-day clean up
3. waste disposal
4. removal of unused materials
5. inspection to ensure clean up is complete

Don’t forget places such as shelves, basements and boiler rooms that would otherwise be overlooked. The orderly arrangement of operations, tools, equipment and supplies is an important part of a good housekeeping program.

The final addition to any housekeeping program is inspection. It is the only way to check for deficiencies in the program so that changes can be made. Walker Health and Safety Services can carry out workplace inspection.

Contact Walker Health and Safety Services should you require further information.