SAY GOODBYE TO WORKPLACE RISKS WITH IMPROVED HOUSEKEEPING

All workers should be made personally aware, by their immediate manager, of their responsibility for maintaining high housekeeping standards in their work-area and in all their activities.

Detailed and exhaustive training programmes should be initiated for all personnel, to encourage awareness of the importance of housekeeping.

Where appropriate, housekeeping competitions pitting various departments, sections, or sites of your business against one another in friendly competition may be held. This can serve two purposes: to strengthen team-building and to educate staff in matters of proper housekeeping initiatives.

Housekeeping and its importance can also be promoted by means of posters, stickers, etc.

Good housekeeping in the workplace includes:

• Providing the right tools and equipment for cleaning and general maintenance
• Ensuring materials and equipment are stored in a tidy manner (including empty packaging and containers)
• Aisles, walkways and other thoroughfares are kept unobstructed (e.g. trip hazards)
• Removing combustible materials from built-up areas
• Clear access to emergency equipment and first aid kits
• Unobstructed means of escape

All managers and supervisors should carry out regular housekeeping inspections for areas under their responsibility.

Housekeeping inspections can be carried out in accordance with controlled checklists, problems identified, and documented actions followed up and completed on time.

Arrangements should also be put in place to ensure the timely and proper completion of all actions arising from deficiencies identified in the course of all housekeeping inspections.