Safety Tip of the Week – A Safe Workplace – Is a Clean Workplace

Effective housekeeping can eliminate some workplace hazards and help get a job done safely and properly. Poor housekeeping frequently contributes to accidents by hiding hazards that cause injuries.

Effective housekeeping is an ongoing operation: it is not a hit-and-miss cleanup done occasionally. Periodic “panic” cleanups are costly and ineffective in reducing accidents.

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 misplaced material; and
• 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.

Good Housekeeping Habits:

• Remembering it is part of your daily job duties;
• Developing a routine cleaning schedule;
• Reporting overcrowding or unsafe conditions;
• Clearly marking physical hazards or areas of concern; and
• Cleaning as you go.

Safe housekeeping requires that each one of us be constantly on the lookout for hazards and take the necessary action to eliminate or control them.

A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING…EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE!!