Good Housekeeping
Good housekeeping is important in order to protect people and materials. Good housekeeping can prevent slips, trips and falls and also minimise the risk of fire.
Importance.
Slipping and tripping hazards may seem minor, but they are the most common causes of major injuries within UK workplaces. The HSE reports that each year about 11,000 major injuries are caused by slipping and tripping (in 2009/10 slips and trips caused 41% of all occupational major injury accidents).
Regulations.
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act employers have to ensure their employees and anyone else who could be affected by their work are kept safe from harm. This means slip and trips risks must be controlled to ensure people do not slip, trip and fall.
Guidance.
- Keep rubbish and loose objects clear of the floor and walkway areas.
- Dispose of all waste and rubbish into designated areas.
- Store all materials safely in designated areas.
- Keep all tools and equipment in their proper places except when actually in use.
- A safe place of work at all times includes a safe means of access and egress to all places where work is done. Do not leave block or leave obstacles where they might impede escape or cause a tripping hazard.
- If all rubbish is regularly removed in the event of fire, the danger is confined and more easily dealt with.
- Damaged tools or equipment must be taken out of use and immediate steps taken to have them repaired or disposed.
- When work is finished, put tool, equipment and PPE away. Do not leave belongings lying around.
- If you see anything lying on floors, stairways, passages that could cause people to trip and fall, pick it up and put it in a safe place.
- If you notice rubbish piling up which you cannot remove, alert your supervisor.
- If when working at height you notice loose objects, put them somewhere where they cannot be dislodged. This avoids the risk of
them falling and causing injury.
Questions.
- Why is it important to have safe access and egress?
- What are the problems caused by build up of waste?
Summary.
Good housekeeping is important to keep the workforce safe by minimising the risk of slips and trips.
A tidy site will be more organised and therefore increase productivity.
