Preventing accidents in the workplace is crucial, and this can be achieved through good housekeeping practices. Mishandling goods, falling objects, and collisions with obstacles are the main causes of work accidents. However, by maintaining good housekeeping, these accidents can be significantly reduced or completely eliminated. Therefore, it is important to emphasize the role of good industrial housekeeping in preventing a wide range of workplace accidents.
– Accident and fire causes are eliminated
– Energy is saved by eliminating the need to work around congested areas and stored materials in the work area
– Space is utilized optimally
– Inventory of materials is minimized
– Property damage is controlled
– Workplace appearance is guaranteed to be good
– Better working habits are encouraged
– An image of a well-run operation is reflected
– Cleanup and janitorial work are reduced
The following elements need attention in a good housekeeping campaign:
– Aisles should be wide enough for traffic movements, marked off by floor lines from work positions and storage areas.
– Sufficient room for individuals to work should be provided.
– Adequate and convenient space for materials and tools should be available for storage.
The layout is planned for efficient materials flow in materials handling. Good general ventilation and local exhaust ventilation are implemented to remove air contaminants at the source. The floors and walls are made of construction and materials that are easy to clean and maintain in good condition. Well-distributed artificial light is used along with effectively utilizing available daylight. Amenities include clean and up-to-date washrooms and clothing lockers. Additionally, a clean and inviting lunch room is provided for employees to have their meals.
Waste Removal—Ensuring adequate facilities to prevent congestion and disorder, let us examine some specific elements. Preserve Clear Aisles: Aisle space must be dedicated for the movement of personnel, products, and materials. It should remain clean and unobstructed, never used for storing items that create bottlenecks or overflow. This directive also applies to passageways and emergency exits. Eliminate blind corners or provide sufficient warning signs for protection. Use markings to clearly indicate the designated traffic area for aisles. These markings should be wide enough (at least 30 mm) and colored prominently for easy visibility.
Paint or durable plastic strips can be used to improve storage facilities. Tidiness and order are crucial in addressing storage problems in storerooms and yards. Effective storage maximizes air space and saves time by avoiding delays. To maintain tidiness, it is essential to prevent accumulation of stores and scraps on the floor and around machines. Avoid keeping excessive stores and materials near machines and ensure there are proper facilities such as bins, shelves, boxes, racks, etc. for storage. Additionally, it is important to keep the floors clean in order to prevent work injuries caused by people falling.
Many accidents are caused by the condition of the floors. If treated properly, floors are easier to clean and maintain hygiene. Immediate action should be taken to clean up spilled oil and other liquids. Accumulation of chips, shavings, dust, and similar waste should be avoided. It is advisable to remove them frequently or use traps to prevent them from reaching the floor. Another cost-effective way to enhance walls is by painting them. A fresh coat of paint can improve morale and light-colored walls reflect light, while dirty or dark-colored walls absorb light.
Dirty walls have a negative impact and promote unclean behaviors and careless attitudes. It is important to select appropriate colors for painting walls, ceilings, and work surfaces. It is also essential to regularly clean the painted surfaces. Color can be utilized for safety purposes, such as warning about physical dangers and indicating obstacles like pillars. By painting handrails, machine guards, and other safety equipment, they become easily distinguishable and protected against rust. While color can help emphasize hazardous areas of machinery, it should never be considered a replacement for necessary guards.
MAINTAIN THE LIGHT FITTINGS: It is important to include attention to light fittings in any effective housekeeping program. Lamps and shades that are dirty, as well as lamps that have reduced output from use, can limit employees’ access to necessary light. Research has shown that cleaning the lamps and reflectors can improve lighting efficiency by 20 to 30 percent.
CLEAN THE WINDOWS: Clear windows allow light to enter a space, while dirty windows obstruct it. Insufficient lighting can cause strain on the eyes and increase the risk of accidents due to reduced visibility. Make sure that windows are not blocked by stacked materials, equipment, or items on the ledges.
Dispose of scrap and prevent spillage by providing convenient containers for waste and educating employees to use them. This practice will improve safety, save expenses, and create a better working environment in the factory. Install splash guards and drip pans to prevent accidents caused by oily floors. Keep oil and grease off the floor to reduce hazards. To get rid of dust and dirt, collect them as part of the process or use cleaning methods if enclosure and exhaust methods are not feasible.
Industrial vacuum cleaners are specifically designed to remove light dust and dirt from various surfaces including walls, ceilings, ledges, machinery, and other hard-to-reach areas where dust and dirt tend to accumulate. To effectively remove light dust by sweeping, it is recommended to dampen floors before sweeping them instead of sweeping them dry. Additionally, occasionally oiling the floors with a light oil can help to suppress dust, but caution must be exercised to prevent any slipping accidents. It is important to remember that sweeping is not only necessary for floors alone.
Areas such as ledges, shelves, piping, conduits, lamps, reflectors, windows, cupboards, and lockers where dust and grime tend to accumulate should receive attention. Walls, floors, and fixtures in meal rooms, restrooms, and other facilities that require high cleanliness standards must be maintained properly. Applying light-colored paint can greatly enhance cleanliness in these areas and serve as a benchmark for employees to follow. It is also important to regularly renew soap and towels and ensure wash basins are cleaned properly.
Regardless of the location – whether it’s the tool room, rack, yard, or bench – it is crucial to keep tools organized and tidy. This involves using appropriate fixtures near the workbench and in the tool room. Additionally, it is important to establish a consistent system for inspecting, cleaning, and repairing tools. Equally vital is the maintenance of clean and fully stocked first aid facilities and equipment to be prepared for any accidents or illnesses.
INSPECT FIRE-CONTROL EQUIPMENT: Regularly inspect and maintain all fire-fighting equipment, including extinguishers and fire hoses, to ensure they are in proper working condition. Also, regularly inspect and keep in good working order fire protection facilities such as fire doors, exits, and automatic alarms. Consistently clear any obstructions from doors and exits.
ATTEND REGULARLY TO MAINTENANCE: Regularly attend to the maintenance of buildings and equipment as it is crucial for maintaining good housekeeping.
If anything is broken or damaged, it needs to be promptly replaced or repaired. This includes faulty ladders, broken handrails, steps, and more. Neglected workplace conditions can not only increase the risk of accidents but also create an impression of neglect if issues like broken windows, damaged doors, faulty plumbing, leaking gutters, and broken floors are left unrepaired. Such negligence can cause employees to develop a careless attitude towards their work. Therefore, a comprehensive maintenance program should encompass the inspection, lubrication, maintenance, and repair of tools, equipment, machines,
It is recommended to assign workplace cleaning to dedicated cleaning staff rather than burdening production employees with additional tasks. If this is not possible, adequate time should be set aside during working hours for cleaning purposes. It is crucial to clearly identify the individuals responsible for cleaning and specify the areas that need attention. Failing to do so often leads to neglect of less visible spaces like shelves, yards, small buildings, sheds, cellars, basements, and boiler rooms until they reach a state of severe deterioration.
Seiton refers to the action of organizing all necessary materials in a systematic manner. It involves ensuring that everything has a designated place and is kept in that place.
Seiso involves cleaning and polishing the workplace to achieve a state free of dirt or dust. It also includes inspecting for any defects.
Seiketsu is the condition in which a high standard of housekeeping is achieved.
Shitsuke is the condition in which all members of the team practice the above four actions (Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke) spontaneously and willingly as a way of life.
