Ocean Companies Safety Tip of the Week – Safety and Housekeeping
Keeping a clean and orderly workspace plays a very important role in safety and in production as well. For safety’s sake it is essential to keep all walking areas free of debris; e.g. fish, chunks of wood from pallets, etc.; to prevent slips, trips and falls, a main reason for injuries. We must also make sure there is nothing blocking passageways or sitting in front of exit doors, eye wash stations, emergency showers, and fire extinguishers. This is all common sense, if it’s blocked, how can we get to it in an emergency. In the words of The Department of Labor and Industries, “You must keep all areas of your workplace, passageways, storage rooms and service rooms in a clean, orderly and sanitary condition to the extent the nature of the work allows.” When L& I starts a sentence with “You must,” it means it is a law in the Washington Administrative Code, or WAC.
If your work area is clean; meaning hoses are coiled and hung on the wall, drawers are closed, and tools are put away; it becomes easier to find everything you need, when you need it. This saves time and money by: reducing accidents and mistakes, increasing production, extending the life of the equipment by making it easier to spot minor equipment problems before they happen, improving inventory and quality control, eliminating fire hazards, reducing waste, lowering frustration, and to come into a clean environment every day raises morale. The same rules regarding housekeeping and safety that apply to work, also applies at home! A clean home is a safer home and when things are put away in their proper place, they are easier to find.
Sources: Weekly Safety Wisdom: Housekeeping and Safety, Housekeeping, Drainage, & Storage
– Cherie
