The Importance of Housekeeping
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The U.S. Department of Labor reports that slips,
trips and falls make up the majority of general industry accidents. They
account for 25 percent of all reported claims per year. More than 17 percent of
all disabling occupational injuries result from falls. A good housekeeping
program can help prevent many of these incidents.
What
causes slip, trip and fall (STF) injuries? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control
blames "contaminants on the floor" as the leading cause. In layman’s terms,
that simply means floors that are wet or dirty. Keeping floors clean and
hazard-free requires a good housekeeping program. Here are some basic steps to
start yours:
Put
it in writing — A
written housekeeping program can help ensure the quality and consistency of
housekeeping procedures. Provide a copy to all employees, and they should know
where to find additional copies.
The program
should describe:
- How
to immediately contact the housekeeping department (if you have one).
- Where
and how cleaning materials and products are stored.
- When
to use wet floor signs and barriers and where signs are stored.
- When
specific areas of the facility should be cleaned.
- What
cleaning methods are appropriate for different areas and surfaces.
Keep
floors clean and dry:
- Encourage
workers to cover, clean or report spills promptly.
- Give
employees easy access to products to clean, cover and highlight a spill. Place
spill pads, paper towel holders and pop-up-tent wet floor signs in convenient
locations throughout the facility.
- If
you have housekeeping staff available during business hours, provide them with
pagers and post the number in various places.
- Place
water-absorbent walk-off mats where water, ice or soap may drip onto the floor.
This includes near entrances, sinks and water fountains.
Use the right kind of mats. Mats should:
- Have
beveled edges and a slip-resistant backing.
- Be
large enough so people will take several footsteps over the mat. If there is
water around or beyond the mat, it means the mat is not large enough and/or is
saturated and needs to be replaced.
- Not
move when on the floor. If needed, secure mats to prevent them from moving.
- Be
replaced in the proper position. If needed, use tape or other markings to show
employees where mats belong.
Use
proper cleaning procedures for floors:
- Research
has shown that a two-step mopping process is better than damp-mopping. In the
two-step process, 1) cleaning solution is applied on a section of the floor
with a dripping mop, and 2) after a few minutes, the cleaning solution is
removed with a wrung mop, before the solution dries.
- Make
sure the cleaning product can be used on common floor contaminants. You’ll also
want to make sure cleaning products are mixed according to manufacturer’s
directions. Certain cleaning products, such as ammonia and bleach, can cause
toxic fumes if combined.
Although
a cleaning program might not seem as exciting or important as other injury
prevention programs, it can make the difference between a slip, trip or fall
accident ... or a safe workplace. For more suggestions on improving workplace
safety, please contact the
PCOC Insurance Program department of EPIC (formerly The Leavitt Group) at 877-860-7378 or email us at ProPest@epicbrokers.com. |
