Poor
housekeeping results in accidents.
Approximately 30% to 40% of all accidents reportable to the Health and
Safety Executive are either directly or indirectly caused by poor housekeeping
arrangements, i.e. rubbish or poorly stored material in access ways causing
people to trip and fall
Photograph showing :
· Rubbish left lying around
· Blocked access way
· Unstable stacked material
Goodhousekeeping at work has the same importance as in the home.
Do
not rely on others to put things away -
they won’t.
It’s
just as easy to put tools away tidily as it is to leave them lying around on
benches, on the floor, on scaffolding, resting on pipes or other positions
where they could create a tripping hazard, fall onto a person, or be damaged in
a fall.
You
will also be able to find them when you next need them.
REMEMBER – A
place for everything and everything in its place.
If
dismantling anything, stack parts away neatly and tidily. Do not leave materials in gangways, they
could cut off someone’s escape route or cause a tripping hazard.
If
dismantling anything constructed of wood, make sure all nails are removed. If this is not possible hammer the nails
flat, making sure that no part of the nail is left protruding that could cause
injury to fellow employees.
All
rubbish should be put into skips as it accumulates. In this way, should a fire occur, it will be
confined to a small area and dealt with quickly and efficiently, thus
preventing the fire spreading, especially in high winds.
REMEMBER –
Rubbish left lying around is also a trip hazard to the person following you.
If
tools get damaged, get them repaired or replaced. Do not leave them lying around, as again,
they are a trip hazard.
If
you notice rubbish piling up which you cannot remove, bring it to the attention
of your supervisor, who will make arrangements to have it removed.
Should
you be working at height and notice loose objects on boards or walkways, put
them somewhere where they cannot be dislodged.
They could fall onto someone working below and seriously injure them.
Materials
must be stored in the dedicated storage areas in a tidy and safe manner,
otherwise trip hazards will exist or stacked materials will fall.
When
stacking materials always :-
·
Use
racks for lengths of pipes or timber
·
Ensure
pallets are not stacked to high or are unstable
·
Keep
all access ways clear
Photograph showing :
·
Safely
stacked materials
·
Unrestricted
access
Ensure
pallets are not stacked to high or are unstable
·
Keep
all access ways clear
When
finishing work, put overalls and other gear in lockers provided, don’t just
leave things lying around hoping they will be there when you return.
REMEMBER - A
clean and tidy site is a SAFE SITE.