Housekeeping And Safety

Housekeeping And Safety

 Today, Industries consider Housekeeping as clearing floors, surfaces, shop floors, removing dust and managing clutter. Of course, housekeeping is all about these things but as far as safety term is considered it means a lot!. 

Housekeeping is very crucial for safe workplaces.

It is not only helping to prevent injuries but improve productivity and morale. 

The practice extends from traditional offices to industrial workplaces, including factories, warehouses and manufacturing plants that present special challenges such as hazardous materials, combustible dust and other flammables. Experts agree that all workplace safety programs should incorporate housekeeping, and every worker should play a part. In addition, housekeeping should have management’s commitment so workers realize its importance. Here are 11 tips for effective workplace housekeeping.

To help prevent slip, trip and fall incidents, the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety recommends the following:

• Report and clean up spills and leaks.
• Keep aisles and exits clear of items.
• Consider installing mirrors and warning signs to help with blind spots.
• Replace worn, ripped or damage flooring.
• Consider installing anti-slip flooring in areas that can’t always be cleaned.
• Use drip pans and guards.

The National Safety Council “Supervisors’ Safety Manual” includes these precautionary measures for fire safety:

• Keep combustible materials in the work area only in amounts needed for the job. When they are unneeded, move them to an assigned safe storage area.
• Store quick-burning, flammable materials in designated locations away from ignition sources.
• Avoid contaminating clothes with flammable liquids. Change clothes if contamination occurs.
• Keep passageways and fire doors free of obstructions. Stairwell doors should be kept closed. Do not store items in stairwells.
• Keep materials at least 18 inches away from automatic sprinklers, fire extinguishers and sprinkler controls. The 18-inch distance is required, but 24 to 36 inches is recommended. Clearance of 3 feet is required between piled material and the ceiling. If stock is piled more than 15 feet high, clearance should be doubled. Check applicable codes, including Life Safety Code, ANSI/NFPA 101-2009.
• Hazards in electrical areas should be reported, and work orders should be issued to fix them.

Safety is a daily measure so long as health or life is concern. your amount of safety determines the volume of near-miss or accident. safety first and always is my watchword but God watches over and supersedes all!

- Shankar Mane