Workplace Housekeeping Basic Guide
Why should we pay attention to housekeeping at work?
What is the purpose of workplace housekeeping?
What are some benefits of good housekeeping practices?
How do I plan a good housekeeping program?
What are the elements of an effective housekeeping program?
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: it is not a hit-and-miss cleanup done
occasionally. Periodic "panic" cleanups are costly and ineffective in reducing
accidents.
What is the purpose of 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
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.
What are some benefits of good housekeeping practices?
Effective housekeeping results in:
reduced handling to ease the flow of materials
fewer tripping and slipping accidents in clutter-free and spill-free work areas
decreased fire hazards
lower worker exposures to hazardous substances (e.g. dusts, vapours)
better control of tools and materials, including inventory and supplies
more efficient equipment cleanup and maintenance
better hygienic conditions leading to improved health
more effective use of space
reduced property damage by improving preventive maintenance
less janitorial work
improved morale
improved productivity (tools and materials will be easy to find)
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. It includes a material flow plan to
ensure minimal handling. 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.
Part of the plan could include investing in extra bins and more frequent disposal.
The costs of this investment could be offset by the elimination of repeated handling
of the same material and more effective use of the workers' time. Often, ineffective
or insufficient storage planning results in materials being handled and stored in
hazardous ways. Knowing the plant layout and the movement of materials
throughout the workplace can help plan work procedures.
Worker training is an essential part of any good housekeeping program. Workers
need to know how to work safely with the products they use. They also need to know
how to protect other workers such as by posting signs (e.g., "Wet - Slippery Floor")
and reporting any unusual conditions.
Housekeeping order is "maintained" not "achieved." Cleaning and organization must
be done regularly, not just at the end of the shift. Integrating housekeeping into jobs
can help ensure this is done. A good housekeeping program identifies and assigns
responsibilities for the following:
clean up during the shift
day-to-day cleanup
waste disposal
removal of unused materials
inspection to ensure cleanup is complete
Do not forget out-of-the-way places such as shelves, basements, sheds, 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. The documents
on workplace inspection checklists provide a general guide and examples of
checklists for inspecting offices and manufacturing facilities.
What are the elements of an effective housekeeping program?
Dust and Dirt Removal
In some jobs, enclosures and exhaust ventilation systems may fail to collect dust,
dirt and chips adequately. Vacuum cleaners are suitable for removing light dust and
dirt. Industrial models have special fittings for cleaning walls, ceilings, ledges,
machinery, and other hard-to-reach places where dust and dirt may accumulate.
Special-purpose vacuums are useful for removing hazardous substances. For
example, vacuum cleaners fitted with HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters
may be used to capture fine particles of asbestos or fibreglass.
Dampening (wetting) floors or using sweeping compounds before sweeping reduces
the amount of airborne dust. The dust and grime that collect in places like shelves,
piping, conduits, light fixtures, reflectors, windows, cupboards and lockers may
require manual cleaning.
Compressed air should not be used for removing dust, dirt or chips from equipment
or work surfaces.
Employee Facilities
Employee facilities need to be adequate, clean and well maintained. Lockers are
necessary for storing employees' personal belongings. Washroom facilities require
cleaning once or more each shift. They also need to have a good supply of soap,
towels plus disinfectants, if needed.
If workers are using hazardous materials, employee facilities should provide special
precautions such as showers, washing facilities and change rooms. Some facilities
may require two locker rooms with showers between. Using such double locker
rooms allows workers to shower off workplace contaminants and prevents them from
contaminating their "street clothes" by keeping their work clothes separated from the
clothing that they wear home.
Smoking, eating or drinking in the work area should be prohibited where toxic
materials are handled. The eating area should be separate from the work area and
should be cleaned properly each shift.
Surfaces
Floors: Poor floor conditions are a leading cause of accidents so cleaning up spilled oil
and other liquids at once is important. Allowing chips, shavings and dust to
accumulate can also cause accidents. Trapping chips, shavings and dust before they
reach the floor or cleaning them up regularly can prevent their accumulation. Areas
that cannot be cleaned continuously, such as entrance ways, should have anti-slip
flooring. Keeping floors in good order also means replacing any worn, ripped, or
damaged flooring that poses a tripping hazard.
Walls: Light-coloured walls reflect light while dirty or dark-coloured walls absorb
light. Contrasting colours warn of physical hazards and mark obstructions such as
pillars. Paint can highlight railings, guards and other safety equipment, but should
never be used as a substitute for guarding. The program should outline the
regulations and standards for colours.
Maintain Light Fixtures
Dirty light fixtures reduce essential light levels. Clean light fixtures can improve
lighting efficiency significantly.
Aisles and Stairways
Aisles should be wide enough to accommodate people and vehicles comfortably and
safely. Aisle space allows for the movement of people, products and materials.
Warning signs and mirrors can improve sight-lines in blind corners. Arranging aisles
properly encourages people to use them so that they do not take shortcuts through
hazardous areas.
Keeping aisles and stairways clear is important. They should not be used for
temporary "overflow" or "bottleneck" storage. Stairways and aisles also require
adequate lighting.
Spill Control
The best way to control spills is to stop them before they happen. Regularly cleaning
and maintaining machines and equipment is one way. Another is to use drip pans
and guards where possible spills might occur. When spills do occur, it is important to
clean them up immediately. Absorbent materials are useful for wiping up greasy, oily
or other liquid spills. Used absorbents must be disposed of properly and safely.
Tools and Equipment
Tool housekeeping is very important, whether in the tool room, on the rack, in the
yard, or on the bench. Tools require suitable fixtures with marked locations to
provide orderly arrangement, both in the tool room and near the work bench.
Returning them promptly after use reduces the chance of being misplaced or lost.
Workers should regularly inspect, clean and repair all tools and take any damaged or
worn tools out of service.
Maintenance
The maintenance of buildings and equipment may be the most important element of
good housekeeping. Maintenance involves keeping buildings, equipment and
machinery in safe, efficient working order and in good repair. This includes
maintaining sanitary facilities and regularly painting and cleaning walls. Broken
windows, damaged doors, defective plumbing and broken floor surfaces can make a
workplace look neglected; these conditions can cause accidents and affect work
practices. So it is important to replace or fix broken or damaged items as quickly as
possible. A good maintenance program provides for the inspection, maintenance,
upkeep and repair of tools, equipment, machines and processes.
Waste Disposal
The regular collection, grading and sorting of scrap contribute to good housekeeping
practices. It also makes it possible to separate materials that can be recycled from
those going to waste disposal facilities.
Allowing material to build up on the floor wastes time and energy since additional
time is required for cleaning it up. Placing scrap containers near where the waste is
produced encourages orderly waste disposal and makes collection easier. All waste
receptacles should be clearly labelled (e.g., recyclable glass, plastic, scrap metal,
etc.).
Storage
Good organization of stored materials is essential for overcoming material storage
problems whether on a temporary or permanent basis. There will also be fewer strain
injuries if the amount of handling is reduced, especially if less manual materials
handling is required. The location of the stockpiles should not interfere with work but
they should still be readily available when required. Stored materials should allow at
least one metre (or about three feet) of clear space under sprinkler heads.
Stacking cartons and drums on a firm foundation and cross tying them, where
necessary, reduces the chance of their movement. Stored materials should not
obstruct aisles, stairs, exits, fire equipment, emergency eyewash fountains,
emergency showers, or first aid stations. All storage areas should be clearly marked.
Flammable, combustible, toxic and other hazardous materials should be stored in
approved containers in designated areas that are appropriate for the different
hazards that they pose. Storage of materials should meet all requirements specified
in the fire codes and the regulations of environmental and occupational health and
safety agencies in your jurisdiction.
