Practice good housekeeping in the workplace

To maintain a safe and healthy workplace, housekeeping must be a priority. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, poor housekeeping can present hidden hazards that may cause incidents, including tripping on loose objects in walkways, being hit by falling objects, and slipping on wet or dirty surfaces.

CCOHS recommends establishing a workplace housekeeping program that manages “the orderly storage and movement of materials from point of entry to exit.” The center advises training employees on how to safely work with the products around them. Also, integrate housekeeping responsibilities into jobs by having workers clean up as they go during shifts by removing waste and unused materials and inspecting their work area to ensure cleanup was properly completed.

Additional tips include:

• Ensure all spills are immediately cleaned up. Replace worn, ripped and damaged flooring and place anti-slip flooring in areas that cannot continually be cleaned, such as an entrance.
• Maintain clean light fixtures to improve lighting efficiency.
• Keep aisles and stairways clear. Consider installing warning signs and mirrors to help improve sight lines in blind corners.
• Regularly inspect, clean and repair all tools. Do not use damaged tools.

CCOHS said inspections are a vital factor in a successful housekeeping program because they are the only way deficiencies can be discovered and changed.