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Every supervisor, every manager and anybody in a leadership position should understand that poor housekeeping contributes to poor safety.

Go and have a look at your workplace and ask yourself these ten questions.

Housekeeping

Are all travel ways clear of obstructions?

Are they properly marked?

Is there any rubbish on the floor?

Is the workplace free from flammable materials?

Is it clean and tidy?

Is there any accumulation of rubbish in corners?

Are all the tools in a safe usable condition?

Are they stored in their proper places?

Is the machinery and equipment clean?

Is the floor slippery from moisture or oil and grease?

Your answers will indicate the areas that require attention and enable you to start the establishment of housekeeping standards. The ultimate question to ask yourself when you have inspected the workplace is, "Are there any unnecessary things in the workplace and are all the necessary things in their proper places?"

Housekeeping in any organization is the cornerstone of efficiency and the maintenance of operating standards. If you are going to increase safety levels, first of all to improve housekeeping. A tidy workplace reduces the opportunity for accidents, incidence and prevents wasted energy. It also has the effect of making the greatest use of precious space. Keeping things in order is the first step of doing everything right, if you can't manage the housekeeping, you will find it very difficult to manage the business.

Good housekeeping will ensure safer production and greater productivity at lower costs. This alone makes the return on investment well worth it.

Without a doubt, a messy working environment contributes to unsafe work practices, undesirable incidents and ultimately, workplace accidents. From a leadership point of view, poor housekeeping is often a reflection of the levels of leadership within the organization.

Housekeeping inspections should be a regular part of leadership activity. During these inspections it is possible to recognize hazards and note them for action. It is also a great opportunity to identify unused inventory that can be returned to the store. If everything is discovered that represents a serious risk or potential danger then action should be taken immediately. Over a relatively short period of time, housekeeping will improve and so will safety. The investment in time is relatively short and it is an ideal job that can be delegated to a supervisor or manager.

The most effective way to conduct housekeeping inspections is to invite someone from a different department to inspect your workplace and then you can inspect theirs. This creates the opportunity for looking at the area with a fresh set of eyes.

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