Good housekeeping is not normally thought about when considering workplace safety, but it can have a significant effect on a person’s ability to safely work. Housekeeping can have a variety of impacts on the overall safety of a jobsite including increasing the likelihood of a fire as well as increasing the difficulty of evacuating a building in case of an emergency. Another way that poor housekeeping increases the chances of an injury is by potentially causing a slip, trip, or fall. Slips, trips, and falls can lead to injuries such as sprains, strains, cuts, and broken bones. Part of our job is moving tools, material, ladders, trash gondolas, tool carts, and other pieces of equipment. In addition we frequently work from ladders and lifts. When you add in the complication of poor housekeeping to these tasks, the chances of slipping, tripping, or falling go up. Keep your work areas clean of garbage, water bottles, and scraps of material. Keep your area clear of extension cords that aren’t being used and try to keep them out of areas where people rarely walk. An example of this would be running extension cords along walls and only crossing walkways where necessary. Store tools, tool bags, lunchboxes, coolers, and fans out of walkways. Following these practices will help keep everyone safely on their feet.
