Housekeeping best practices

Clear the clutter, boost the safety

A business that implements a housekeeping plan maintains an organized and hazard-free workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) outlines housekeeping in standard 1915.81. OSHA general requirements in this standard state “the employer shall establish and maintain good housekeeping practices to eliminate hazards to employees to the extent practicable.” A safe work environment can contribute to employee health, morale, and efficiency. Good housekeeping practices may help reduce the risk of slips, trips, falls, falling objects, and fire hazards. The following, although not an exhaustive list, may provide some basic tips to consider:

• Develop a written housekeeping plan that is communicated to workers
• Keep workstations tidy
• Return tools and materials to storage after use
• Dispose of items that are no longer needed
• Keep aisles, stairways, emergency exits and doors clear
• Maintain easy and open access to fire alarm and firefighting equipment
• Ensure all cords are properly secured and not across walkways
• Report and clean up spills and leaks
• Consider installing mirrors or warning signs if blind spots are present
• Replace all damaged flooring
• Eliminate slippery conditions from walkways and working surfaces right away
• Shut drawers and cabinets to prevent a tip-over or struck by incident
• Store heavy objects near floor to prevent shelf tip-over
• Store tools, equipment and materials properly to prevent sharp edge injuries
• Keep combustibles only in amounts needed for the job and store properly
• Store flammable materials in designated areas far away from ignition sources
• Report electrical hazards immediately and issue work orders to fix them
• Encourage employees to report on unsafe conditions

Source
OSHA.gov Housekeeping standard 1915.81 (n.d.)
"Tips for Effective Workplace Housekeeping”, National Safety Council, nsc.org.

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