Critical risk: Housekeeping

What is the risk?

Housekeeping practices are part of the workplace quality program as well as the safety program. Poor housekeeping practices such as inadequate cleaning of work areas and equipment may lead to a build-up of bacteria that could contaminate meat product. Good housekeeping is also fundamental to maintaining a clean, tidy and safe working environment. This factsheet focuses on the safety aspects of housekeeping.
In addition, good housekeeping practices generally reflect good management practices and pride in the workplace, signaling that the company cares about safety. This is important in an industry that needs to win and maintain the trust of the general public that the company can consistently produce quality product to customer specifications. Work sites that have poor housekeeping practices with rubbish, waste and broken items around the grounds and a general appearance of poor maintenance do not instill confidence in consumers about the products produced on site.
Poor housekeeping practices may cause accidents in the workplace and/or provide fuel for fires. Poor housekeeping practices may lead to slips, trips and falls. These accidents may be the result of:

• poor maintenance practices
• inadequate cleaning practices
• cracked and uneven floors
• work areas and walkways blocked by waste, equipment, unused items, broken items etc
• spills
• hoses and equipment lying around
• product overflow
• waste that hasn’t been disposed of
• items that haven’t been put away
• inadequate storage facilities
• rubbish that hasn’t been disposed of
• broken items such as broken pallets stacked up against walls

Organization breeds success. A clean and well-kept workplace makes a strong impression on how employees view their jobs. Workers who take pride in their working environment will be more inclined to organize their own desks, clean up after themselves, maintain filing systems and work more effectively together. A clean, tidy working environment can make a positive change in employee morale.

Professionalism

• Filing cabinets are perfect for storing things like invoices, work orders, estimates, vendor information, product specs and customer profiles. Label files according to their specific use and file documents away whenever you clean the office.

Safety and Health

Efficiency

• If you must keep certain documents on hand for immediate reference, then you can make use of desktop trays and wall mounted "pockets." This is a good idea for things like bills to be paid, open customer files, paperwork that must be filed away and documents in current dispute.

• To save space, consider scanning documents that can be archived and storing them electronically.

• Scrub toilet bowls with a disinfecting cleaner and a toilet brush. Wipe the seat, the lid, the outside circumference of the bowl, the tank and the base of the toilet with disinfectant. Use toilet bowl deodorizing cakes to maintain freshness in between cleanings.
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• Wipe sink and counter areas with a disinfecting cleaner.

• Sweep and mop the floors.

• Refill soap dispensers and paper towel holders, and replace toilet tissue rolls.

• Safely dispose of the tool in a draw or in a tool box

• ensure that the tool is clean after use for before use 

• ensure the tool is not breakable before using it 

• check tool to see if anything needs replacing before use

Recycling

• Elimination (including substitution): remove the hazard from the workplace, or substitute (replace) hazardous materials or machines with less hazardous ones.

• Engineering Controls: includes designs or modifications to plants, equipment, ventilation systems, and processes that reduce the source of exposure.

• Administrative Controls: controls that alter the way the work is done, including timing of work, policies and other rules, and work practices such as standards and operating procedures (including training, housekeeping, and equipment maintenance, and personal hygiene practices).

• Personal Protective Equipment: equipment worn by individuals to reduce exposure such as contact with chemicals or exposure to noise.

A tidy, organized office and work atmosphere creates a sense of professionalism for both your employees and your clients. It demonstrates a company wide dedication to detail, cleanliness and thoughtful planning to customers and colleagues. A messy kitchen, scattered papers or important files out of order can cause potential clients to form the perception that the workers don’t really take pride in their jobs. As a result, clients might take their business elsewhere.

A messy company work space can present safety and health concerns. For example, old food kept in a company’s refrigerator can cause workers to become ill because it can harbor some dangerous and even deadly micro-organisms. Make sure ground surfaces are clear of objects that could cause someone to trip. Clean up spilled liquids promptly to reduce slips and falls. Remove clutter. A clean, safe and organized workplace will help reduce workers' compensation claims.

A chaotic work environment can hinder efficiency. An organized workplace encourages workers to be productive, reduces work-related stress and saves time -- especially because employees spend less time looking for things. When you establish an efficient workplace, you establish structure. By doing so, workers are able to accomplish more and generate more business.

                   

Steps on how to clean your business areas 

There are many reasons for why you may want to keep a clean business office. Not only is a neat and tidy space more visually appealing than a cluttered mess, but it also makes a good impression on customers and clients and is more conducive to productivity in the workplace. It can also reduce your cleaning time which you generally spend at least 50-60 hours every week.

Organize loose papers. 

Paperwork that is piled up throughout the office space not only looks messy, but also makes it difficult and time consuming to refer back to important documents when the need arises. There are a number of ways loose papers can be organized during the office cleaning procedure.

Disinfect the restrooms. 

Not only is this necessary for a clean company office, but also for the safety of your employees and customers. Restrooms are a high traffic area and need to be cleaned every day.

               

Putting away power tools safely 

Putting away power tools after use is very important because it can hurt others when they are not safely put away 

How to properly disposal of waste materials including computer equipment's

Throwing out your unused computer hardware could damage the environment and leave you in breach of state electronics recycling laws. Proper hardware disposal slows down the rate at which landfill sites are clogged up with electronic waste and cuts down on the amount of raw materials needed to build new computers. Alternatively, refurbishment and reuse programs allow others to make use of your hardware after it is no longer of use to you or your business.

Whether you are intending to recycle or give away your old hardware, it is very important that you remove any personally identifiable or confidential business data from it before passing it on. Data recovery software that can retrieve files from erased hard drives is widely available, and could be used to defraud you. If you are using a Windows machine, clean its drive with the Disk part command line utility before disposal. Macs can be wiped via the Secure Erase function in Disk Utility.

Many hardware manufacturers run their own recycling programs. For example, both HP and Dell give you the option of mailing or dropping off unwanted items so they can be safely disposed of. In addition, local recycling schemes operate in many areas. There is no federal law relating to disposal of electronic waste, but as of May 2013 there are 25 states which legally require certain hardware components to be disposed of safely. Click the link in the Resources tab to get information on electronic recycling law in your state.

What are the main ways to control a hazard? 

The main ways to control a hazard include:

These methods are also known as the "hierarchy of control" because they should be considered in the order presented (it is always best to try to eliminate the hazard first, etc).

Types Of Documentation and report used

A business uses financial documents to stay within its budget, prepare budget proposals and file tax returns. These documents include receipt records, payroll reports, paid bills, bank statements, income statements, balance sheets and tax reporting forms. These documents may be prepared by the company’s accountant. A business owner uses these documents to determine the financial success of the company and to identify areas that are unproductive. A department head might use financial documents to prepare a budget proposal.