Good Housekeeping Promotes Safety

Good Safety Housekeeping Practice

Housekeeping is everyone's responsibility and it requires all of us to keep the workplace clean, tidy and organized to make it safe to work in.

A clean work area free of debris and clutter is critical to maintaining a safe work environment. Housekeeping is a continual effort, but one where the rewards are far greater than the effort.

Good housekeeping promotes safety and also indicates a level of professionalism in the work area. Effective housekeeping requires you to:

• Organize your work area and equipment
• Keep your work area clean and clear of rubbish.
• Roll up hoses after use
• Clean up spills
• Store things in their proper place
• Keep walkways clear, floors and access-ways unobstructed
• Regularly dispose of rubbish in bins provided

Poor Housekeeping Promotes Problems

Poor housekeeping leads to a variety of accidents, injuries, damages and problems:

• Slip and trip accidents occur when tools, equipment and scrap materials (i.e. damaged pallets and cages) are left lying on the ground, in corridors and walkways. Cluttered work spaces and spills that not cleaned up immediately leave room for only injuries.
• Splinters, cuts and eye injuries occur when metal filings and dust from chemicals are not cleaned up on top of work benches or trailers. Serious injuries can occur when sharp or damaged objects are left in walkways and not reported for repair.
• Crush injuries occur when unstable stacks (i.e. pallets stacked unevenly or too high) or overburdened storage shelves collapse.
• Time is wasted because tools, equipment and freight are always being moved and re-arranged.
• Serious injury or death can be caused by damaged or broken objects and when people are trying to evacuate a building or access way and emergency exits are blocked off or obstructed.

A cluttered, untidy and disorganized workplace is difficult for everyone to work in and does not encourage quality work.

Benefits of good housekeeping are:

• Less risk of accidents and injuries;
• Less risk of fires
• A more organized workplace and less time wasted trying to find tools, equipment and materials.

Donald G. Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc