Housekeeping and Material Storage in the

WorkplaceDAVID BEAVERS

GATEWAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

What is housekeeping?•Merriam-Webster defines housekeeping as “the care and management of property and the provision of equipment and services; the routine tasks that must be done in order for a system to function or to function efficiently.”

•Housekeeping requirements fall under 29 CFR 1910.22.

•It is applicable to all places of employment, work sites, and the home.

•Essentially, housekeeping can be easily explained as keeping a worksite clean!

Housekeeping Regulations1910.22(a) Housekeeping - (1) All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, and service rooms shall be kept clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition. (2) The floor of every workroom shall be maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition. Where wet processes are used, drainage shall be maintained, and false floors, platforms, mats, or other dry standing places should be provided where practicable.

1910.22(b) Aisles and passageways – (1) Where mechanical handling equipment is used, sufficient safe clearances shall be allowed for aisles, at loading docks, through doorways and wherever turns or passage must be made. Aisles and passageways shall be kept clear and in good repairs, with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create a hazard. (2) Permanent aisles and passageways shall be appropriately marked.

1910.22(c) Covers and Guardrails – Covers and/or guardrails shall be provided to protect personnel from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, etc.

1910.22(d) Floor Loading Protection – (1) In every building or other structure, or part thereof, used for mercantile, business, industrial, or storage purposes, the loads approved by the building official shall be marked on plates of approved design which shall be supplied and securely affixed by the owner of the building, or his duly authorized agent, in a conspicuous place in each space to which they relate. Such plates shall not be removed or defaced but, if lost, removed, or defaced, shall be replaced by the owner or his agent. (2) It shall be unlawful to place, or cause, or permit to be placed, on any floor or roof of a building or other structure a load greater than that for which such floor or roof is approved by the building official.

What is material storage?•Material storage goes hand-in-hand with housekeeping, and falls underneath 29 CFR 1910.176, “Material Handling and Storage”.

•Material storage is the proper and safe storage of materials. This can apply to a wide variety of things, such as products, equipment, tools, lumber, and so on.

•1910.176(b) covers secure storage and requires that “Storage of material shall not create a hazard. Bags, containers, bundles, etc., stored in tiers shall be stacked, blocked, interlocked and limited in height so that they are stable and secure against sliding or collapse.”

Poor Housekeeping and Material Storage

Potential and Real Costs of Poor Housekeeping and Material Storage

Workers Compensation Payouts due to injuries caused by slips, trips, and falls

Higher insurance premiums

Poor employee health

Lost production time due to employees being away from work

Costs to retrain employees in proper guidelines

Slower production rates caused by employees having to be assigned modified/restricted duties

Falling objects causing damage to equipment, materials, or injuring employees due to unsafe storage

Higher material losses in events such as fires

Benefits of Practicing Proper Housekeeping and Material Storage

Health and Safety Benefits

•Clean walking and working surfaces results in fewer slip, trip, and fall injuries.

•Aisle ways clear of clutter result in easier access to emergency exits and equipment.

•Properly stored material eradicates the hazard of tipping over and striking employees or equipment.

•Identifying and cleaning up spills can alleviate potential disastrous accidents from happening.

•Clean work areas promote safe work practices.

Production and Financial Benefits

•Cleaner work areas ensure employees are able to complete their work safely and efficiently.

•Less time is spent cleaning up overall, meaning more time and focus is spent on completing work.

•Less accidents due to slips trips and falls equal less worker’s compensation losses and higher production output from employees.

•Properly stored and marked materials reduce the time spent to find specific equipment or tools, and hastens inventory audits.

•The quicker a job is completed equates to higher profit margins.

Good Housekeeping PracticesSome good housekeeping practices to consider are as follows:

1. Clean up spills and clutter as soon as they appear, or provide a designated walkway to avoid them until they can be remediated.

2. Store materials safely and clear of aisles and exits or entryways as to not create a hazard to employees.

3. Inspect the worksite or facility before each shift and clean up any debris, loose materials, or tools which are not necessary to the job being performed.

4. Perform a secondary inspection after each shift and ensure all tools and equipment used are put away in their designated area and debris is removed from the worksite.

5. Keep flammable materials in approved, marked containers

BEFORE AFTER

BEFORE AFTER

Inspection Sheet5S of Housekeeping and Material Storage:

•SORT

•SET IN ORDER

•SHINE

•STANDARDIZE

•SUSTAIN

5S Inspection Checklist

Inspection Area

Department

Date

Inspection Completed By:

1S Sort Y / N Remarks

Only necessary items are in immediate work area ____

Trash is removed from work area and in correct bin ____

No items are left unattended ____

All tools, materials, and chemicals are properly organized

____

2S Set In Order

Items are arranged in a tidy manner ____

Layout follows logical material flow pattern ____

Area layout is organized using ergonomic principals ____

Visual guides are easy to understand & follow (e.g. floor marks)

____

3S Shine

Materials and equipment are free of contaminants ____

Tools, machinery and equipment are in good condition

____

The work area is generally clean ____

4S Standardize

Standard labels and all items are in their specified location

____

Records are updated, accurate and completely labelled

____

Materials are organized ____

Materials are able to be retrieved quickly ____

5S Sustain

Employees adhere to company policy ____

No accident/incident reported due to negligence ____

Corrective / Preventive actions address previous inspection

____

Signature: ___________________________________________ Date: ____________________________

ReferencesOSHA 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910.22, “Walking-Working Surfaces – General Requirements”

OSHA 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910.176, “Materials Handling and Storage – Handling Materials – General”

OSHA Shipyard Employment eTool – Good Housekeeping

Miriam-Webster’s Dictionary, 2014 Edition

Aboitiz Power Company Before/After Pictures used with permission