To some people, the word "housekeeping" refers to cleaning floors and surfaces, removing dust, and organizing clutter.

But in a work environment, it means a lot more. Housekeeping is essential to safe workplaces. It can help prevent injuries and improve productivity and morale, as well as make a good first impression on visitors, according to wow essays reviews, safety consultant for the Ohio Bureau of Workers ’Compensation. It can also help an employer avoid possible fines for non-compliance.

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 flammable products. Experts agree that all workplace safety programs should incorporate housekeeping and that every worker should play a role. In addition, housekeeping must have the commitment of management to make workers aware of its importance. Here are tips for effective housekeeping in the workplace.

Avoid slips, trips, and falls

Slips, trips, and falls were the second leading cause of nonfatal occupational injuries or illnesses involving days of absence from work in 2013, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The OSHA Standard for Walking Work Surfaces (1910.22 (a)) states that all workplaces should be "kept clean and tidy and in a sanitary condition." The rule includes passages, reserves, and technical rooms. The floors must be clean and dry. Drainage should be present where “wet processes are used”.

Employers should choose a suitable floor covering (for example, cement, ceramic tile, or other material) because different types of flooring hold up better under certain conditions, said Fred Norton, technical director of ergonomics. and manufacturing technology for Risk Control Services, Liberty Mutual Insurance in Walnut Creek, California. Then develop and implement housekeeping procedures using appropriate cleaners.

“Things like oils and grease - if you don't use the right kind of cleaning protocols, you're just spreading the slippage instead of lifting it up and off the floor,” Norton said.

• To help prevent slips, trips, and falls, the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety recommends the following:
• Report and clean up spills and leaks.
• Keep walkways and exits away from objects.
• Consider installing mirrors and warning signs to help reduce blind spots.
• Replace worn, torn, or damaged flooring.
• Consider installing non-slip flooring in areas that cannot always be cleaned.
• Use drip pans and covers.

In addition, according to OSHA, provide mats, platforms, raised floors or "other dry places" when useful. Every workplace should be free of protruding nails, chips, holes, and loose planks.

Gray added that employers should check for trip hazards and encourage workers to focus on the task at hand.

Eliminate the risk of fire

Employees are responsible for preventing unnecessary combustible materials from accumulating in the work area. Combustible waste should be "stored in covered metal containers and disposed of daily," according to the OSHA Hazardous Materials Standard (1910.106).

The National Safety Council's “Supervisor Safety Manual” includes the following precautionary measures for fire safety:

    Keep combustible materials in the work area only in amounts needed for the job. When not needed, move them to an assigned safe storage area.

    Store fast-burning flammable materials in designated areas away from sources of ignition.

    Avoid contaminating clothing with flammable liquids. Change clothes in case of contamination.

    Keep passageways and fire doors clear of obstructions. The doors to the stairs must remain closed. Do not store items in stairwells.

    Keep materials at least 18 inches away from automatic sprinklers, fire extinguishers, and sprinkler controls. The distance of 18 inches is required, but 24 to 36 inches is recommended. A 3-foot clearance is required between the stacked material and the ceiling. If the stock is stacked more than 15 feet high, the clearance should be doubled. Check applicable codes, including the Life Safety Code, ANSI / NFPA 101-2009.

    Hazards in electrical areas must be reported and work orders issued to address them.

Dust control

A build-up of dust larger than 1/32 of an inch - or 0.8 millimeter - covering at least 5% of a room's surface poses a significant explosion hazard, according to the Quincy-based National Fire Protection Association, MY. This accumulation of dust is about as thick as a penny or a paper clip.

An industrial hygienist should test the workplace for exposures if air quality and dust are of concern, Gray said.

NFPA 654 - a standard for the prevention of fires and dust explosions - deals with the identification of hazardous areas, dust control and housekeeping. The standard states that vacuuming is the "preferred" cleaning method. Sweeping and washing with water are other options. Compressed air or steam "purges" are authorized for inaccessible or dangerous surfaces.

Industrial vacuum cleaners can clean walls, ceilings, machinery, and other places, notes CCOHS.

“You want to use wet methods or have high-efficiency vacuum systems,” said Steve Ahrenholz, senior industrial hygienist in the Surveillance, Risk Assessment, and Field Studies Division at NIOSH. “You don't want to just use a shop vacuum or dry sweep it - certainly no compressed air to blow it out. Then you just re-air the dust and spread it all over the place. "

Dust can also affect the life of equipment and product quality, Ahrenholz added.

Avoid following materials

Work mats - which can be fabric or tights - should be kept clean and maintained. This helps prevent the spread of hazardous materials to other work areas or to the home, Gray said. Check all mats to make sure they do not present a tripping hazard.

Additionally, separate cleaning protocols may be required for different areas to avoid cross-contamination, Norton notes. Avoid using the same mop to clean up both an oily spill and in another area, for example.

If the materials are toxic, industrial hygiene testing, uniforms and showers might be needed, Gray said. Employees who work with toxic materials should not wear their work clothes at home, Ahrenholz added.

Prevent falling objects

Gray noted that guards such as a plinth, grab bar or netting can help prevent objects from falling and hitting workers or equipment.

Other tips include stacking boxes and materials up and down to keep them from falling, said Paul Errico, a safety consultant based in Fairfield, CT. Place heavy items on lower shelves and keep equipment away from edges of desks and tables. Also avoid stacking items in areas where workers walk, including walkways.

Keep the layout in mind so that workers are not exposed to hazards as they pass through the areas, Norton added.

Clear the mess

A crowded workplace can lead to ergonomic issues and possible injuries, as workers have less room to move around, Gray said.

“When an area is congested, you're probably going to get a cut or laceration injury,” she says. “You're not going to have as much room to set up your workstation as you should and to move around. You will be twisting your body rather than moving your whole body. "

The Ohio Workers' Compensation Board recommends that workers return tools and other materials to inventory after use and dispose of materials that are no longer needed.

Keep walkways, stairs, fire exits, electrical panels, and doors free of clutter and purge messy areas. Empty garbage cans before they overflow.