The Importance of Housekeeping

When it comes to safety in the workplace, house keeping is a MAJOR issue!

As a result of a "that's not my job" or "I didn't do it, let somebody else fix it" mentality, hazards are being purposely overlooked too often.
 Not only is House Keeping important to you and your fellow employees, but also to your family, friends, and clients who visit your workplace.

With all of the rain we’ve had recently in the Western Cape, wet surfaces are a major House Keeping hazard, and need to be addressed immediately.

Consider this scenario: After a particularly heavy downpour, water has leaked through the ceiling creating a miniature swimming pool in the middle of the factory where you work. You’ve arrived early before anyone else only to discover the mess...

Being a safety conscious individual you follow the steps involved with dealing with a hazard:

1. Assess the Hazard.
   Which you have; there is water on the floor in the factory in an area where people work and will more than likely slip. There are also lights in that part of the ceiling and therefore there could quite possibly be wet wiring.
   
   
2. Find and Implement Solutions to those Hazards.
   Switch off the lights to avoid any possible electrical damage. It is still early and with no one around to help you, but aware that someone may arrive at any moment, you throw a towel down over the puddle to highlight it’s existance, while you go find a mop and bucket to clean up.
   
   As you are mopping up the water and drying the floor, other employees start to arrive. One of your fellow employees offers to contact the Factory Manager to deal with the possible damaged ceiling and wiring.
   
   
3. Assess whether the Solutions have Eliminated/Reduced the Hazard.
   Floor is now dry and someone qualified to deal with the ceiling and electrical wiring is on their way. However, you notice there is still a slow drip coming from the ceiling.
   
   
4. If a risk to Health and Safety still remains, Implement Sound Work Procedures, in depth training, and use PPE to further reduce the Hazard.
   Put up an appropriate sign notifying everyone that the floor is wet and slippery. Send a memo round to staff asking them to please take care. Place a bucket with a towel underneath to catch the drips.
   
   
5. Conduct Regular Inspections for other Hazards and for further improving existing solutions.
   Keep a copy of the Maintenance Report after the ceiling has been fixed and electrical wiring given the ok. You decide that a thick, course mat placed at that particular entrance would be a great idea, as it often becomes slippery when people enter from outside with wet shoes. Forward all your suggestions onto management. Keep a record of all the steps taken to fix the hazard and suggestions to reduce any future risk.

Pat yourself on the back for a job well done and a hazard efficiently dealt with.

With all of this in mind, it is up to you to ensure that you create a safe, hazard-free work environment. And to help you become and stay a Safety concious individual, SKILLS has an entire range of Safety Training Courses for you to attend.

No matter what our jobs are: IT, Janitor, Engineer, Accountant, Receptionist…

We are ALL responsible for a safe workplace and House Keeping is a major part of that.