The Importance of Housekeeping

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.