What will we do today to prevent an incident? 
Housekeeping refers to keeping materials, work areas
and walking areas in a clean, orderly, sanitary and dry
condition. Poor housekeeping can lead to increased
risks, production delays, property damage and higher
costs. Good housekeeping is also a basic part of
workplace incident and fire prevention.
What’s the hazard?
Poor housekeeping can cause many hazards, which
can include: slipping and tripping, striking up against
materials and being hit by falling objects.
What can happen?
Laura works in an office that does not have a lot
of storage space and has a lack of power outlets.
Boxes are piled on top of one another and there are
extension cords running through the aisle ways. One
day, as Laura is walking back to her desk, she trips on
an extension cord and falls into a stack of boxes that
come crashing down on top of her. Laura now has a
sprained ankle and a bump on her head.
Based on the scenario above, here are three
questions that could be used to spark discussion:
- What is the housekeeping like in your workplace?
- What are some existing or potential housekeeping
hazards in your work area?
- What are some benefits of good housekeeping?
What precautions can be taken to
prevent injuries?
Housekeeping should be done regularly. The following
are some housekeeping practices:
- Keep work areas clean.
- Keep aisles clear.
- Keep exits and entrances clear.
- Keep floors clean, dry and in good condition.
- Vacuum or wet sweep dusty areas frequently.
- Stack and store items safely.
- Store all work materials in approved, clearly labeled
containers in designated storage areas only.
- Use proper waste containers.
- Keep sprinklers, fire alarm pull stations and fire
extinguishers clear from obstructions.
- Clean up spills and leaks of any type quickly
and properly.
- Clean and store tools, items and equipment properly.
- Keep workplaces well lit.
- Don’t allow materials to build up.
Share your ideas!
If you have an idea for Shop Talk that you think others
would benefit from, we’d like to hear about it. Email
us: information@safeworkmanitoba.ca.
For more information: Call 204-957-SAFE (7233)
or toll-free 1-855-957-SAFE (7233).
Image: A worker sweeps debris while a stack of boxes threatens to fall and an electrical cord creates a tripping hazard on the pathway.
Adapted from the 52 Tool Box Talks series developed by CPWR - The Center for
Construction Research and Training based on NIOSH research.
