Effective Housekeeping And Workplace Hazards

Housekeeping or housecleaning is the systematic process of making a home neat and clean in approximately that order. This may be applied more broadly than just to an individual home, or as a metaphor for a similar “clean up” process applied elsewhere such as a procedural reform. It can also be called household management, which is the act of overseeing the organizational, financial, day-to-day operations of a house or estate, and the managing of other domestic concerns.

What are three basic areas housekeeping employees should receive training?

List the elements found in each area and the importance of environmental and health concerns.

Provide good and poor examples.

Why should we pay attention to housekeeping at work?

Effective housekeeping can eliminate some workplace hazards and help get a job done safely and properly. Poor housekeeping can frequently contribute to accidents by hiding hazards that cause injuries. If the sight of paper, debris, clutter and spills is accepted as normal, then other more serious health and safety hazards may be taken for granted.

Housekeeping is not just cleanliness. It includes keeping work areas neat and orderly; maintaining halls and floors free of slip and trip hazards; and removing of waste materials (e.g., paper, cardboard) and other fire hazards from work areas. It also requires paying attention to important details such as the layout of the whole workplace, aisle marking, the adequacy of storage facilities, and maintenance. Good housekeeping is also a basic part of accident and fire prevention.

Effective housekeeping is an ongoing operation: it is not a hit-and-miss cleanup done occasionally. Periodic “panic” cleanups are costly and ineffective in reducing accidents.

What is the purpose of workplace housekeeping?

Poor housekeeping can be a cause of accidents, such as:

tripping over loose objects on floors, stairs and platforms

being hit by falling objects

slipping on greasy, wet or dirty surfaces

striking against projecting, poorly stacked items or misplaced material

cutting, puncturing, or tearing the skin of hands or other parts of the body on projecting nails, wire or steel strapping

To avoid these hazards, a workplace must “maintain” order throughout a workday. Although this effort requires a great deal of management and planning, the benefits are many.

What are some benefits of good housekeeping practices?

Effective housekeeping results in:

reduced handling to ease the flow of materials

fewer tripping and slipping accidents in clutter-free and spill-free work areas

decreased fire hazards

lower worker exposures to hazardous substances (e.g. dusts, vapours)

better control of tools and materials, including inventory and supplies

more efficient equipment cleanup and maintenance

better hygienic conditions leading to improved health

more effective use of space

reduced property damage by improving preventive maintenance

less janitorial work

improved morale

improved productivity (tools and materials will be easy to find)

How do I plan a good housekeeping program?

A good housekeeping program plans and manages the orderly storage and movement of materials from point of entry to exit. It includes a material flow plan to ensure minimal handling. The plan also ensures that work areas are not used as storage areas by having workers move materials to and from work areas as needed. Part of the plan could include investing in extra bins and more frequent disposal.

The costs of this investment could be offset by the elimination of repeated handling of the same material and more effective use of the workers’ time. Often, ineffective or insufficient storage planning results in materials being handled and stored in hazardous ways. Knowing the plant layout and the movement of materials throughout the workplace can help plan work procedures.

Worker training is an essential part of any good housekeeping program. Workers need to know how to work safely with the products they use. They also need to know how to protect other workers such as by posting signs (e.g., “Wet – Slippery Floor”) and reporting any unusual conditions.

Housekeeping order is “maintained” not “achieved.” Cleaning and organization must be done regularly, not just at the end of the shift. Integrating housekeeping into jobs can help ensure this is done. A good housekeeping program identifies and assigns responsibilities for the following:

clean up during the shift

day-to-day cleanup

waste disposal

removal of unused materials

inspection to ensure cleanup is complete

Do not forget out-of-the-way places such as shelves, basements, sheds, and boiler rooms that would otherwise be overlooked. The orderly arrangement of operations, tools, equipment and supplies is an important part of a good housekeeping program.

The final addition to any housekeeping program is inspection. It is the only way to check for deficiencies in the program so that changes can be made. The documents on workplace inspection checklists provide a general guide and examples of checklists for inspecting offices and manufacturing facilities.

What are the elements of an effective housekeeping program?

Dust and Dirt Removal

In some jobs, enclosures and exhaust ventilation systems may fail to collect dust, dirt and chips adequately. Vacuum cleaners are suitable for removing light dust and dirt. Industrial models have special fittings for cleaning walls, ceilings, ledges, machinery, and other hard-to-reach places where dust and dirt may accumulate.

Special-purpose vacuums are useful for removing hazardous substances. For example, vacuum cleaners fitted with HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters may be used to capture fine particles of asbestos or fibreglass.

Dampening (wetting) floors or using sweeping compounds before sweeping reduces the amount of airborne dust. The dust and grime that collect in places like shelves, piping, conduits, light fixtures, reflectors, windows, cupboards and lockers may require manual cleaning.

Compressed air should not be used for removing dust, dirt or chips from equipment or work surfaces.

Employee Facilities

Employee facilities need to be adequate, clean and well maintained. Lockers are necessary for storing employees’ personal belongings. Washroom facilities require cleaning once or more each shift. They also need to have a good supply of soap, towels plus disinfectants, if needed.

If workers are using hazardous materials, employee facilities should provide special precautions such as showers, washing facilities and change rooms. Some facilities may require two locker rooms with showers between. Using such double locker rooms allows workers to shower off workplace contaminants and prevents them from contaminating their “street clothes” by keeping their work clothes separated from the clothing that they wear home.

Smoking, eating or drinking in the work area should be prohibited where toxic materials are handled. The eating area should be separate from the work area and should be cleaned properly each shift.

Surfaces

Floors: Poor floor conditions are a leading cause of accidents so cleaning up spilled oil and other liquids at once is important. Allowing chips, shavings and dust to accumulate can also cause accidents. Trapping chips, shavings and dust before they reach the floor or cleaning them up regularly can prevent their accumulation. Areas that cannot be cleaned continuously, such as entrance ways, should have anti-slip flooring. Keeping floors in good order also means replacing any worn, ripped, or damaged flooring that poses a tripping hazard.

Walls: Light-coloured walls reflect light while dirty or dark-coloured walls absorb light. Contrasting colours warn of physical hazards and mark obstructions such as pillars. Paint can highlight railings, guards and other safety equipment, but should never be used as a substitute for guarding. The program should outline the regulations and standards for colours.

Maintain Light Fixtures

Dirty light fixtures reduce essential light levels. Clean light fixtures can improve lighting efficiency significantly.

Aisles and Stairways

Aisles should be wide enough to accommodate people and vehicles comfortably and safely. Aisle space allows for the movement of people, products and materials. Warning signs and mirrors can improve sight-lines in blind corners. Arranging aisles properly encourages people to use them so that they do not take shortcuts through hazardous areas.

Keeping aisles and stairways clear is important. They should not be used for temporary “overflow” or “bottleneck” storage. Stairways and aisles also require adequate lighting.

Spill Control

The best way to control spills is to stop them before they happen. Regularly cleaning and maintaining machines and equipment is one way. Another is to use drip pans and guards where possible spills might occur. When spills do occur, it is important to clean them up immediately. Absorbent materials are useful for wiping up greasy, oily or other liquid spills. Used absorbents must be disposed of properly and safely.

Tools and Equipment

Tool housekeeping is very important, whether in the tool room, on the rack, in the yard, or on the bench. Tools require suitable fixtures with marked locations to provide orderly arrangement, both in the tool room and near the work bench. Returning them promptly after use reduces the chance of being misplaced or lost. Workers should regularly inspect, clean and repair all tools and take any damaged or worn tools out of service.

Maintenance

The maintenance of buildings and equipment may be the most important element of good housekeeping. Maintenance involves keeping buildings, equipment and machinery in safe, efficient working order and in good repair. This includes maintaining sanitary facilities and regularly painting and cleaning walls. Broken windows, damaged doors, defective plumbing and broken floor surfaces can make a workplace look neglected; these conditions can cause accidents and affect work practices. So it is important to replace or fix broken or damaged items as quickly as possible. A good maintenance program provides for the inspection, maintenance, upkeep and repair of tools, equipment, machines and processes.

Waste Disposal

The regular collection, grading and sorting of scrap contribute to good housekeeping practices. It also makes it possible to separate materials that can be recycled from those going to waste disposal facilities.

Allowing material to build up on the floor wastes time and energy since additional time is required for cleaning it up. Placing scrap containers near where the waste is produced encourages orderly waste disposal and makes collection easier. All waste receptacles should be clearly labelled (e.g., recyclable glass, plastic, scrap metal, etc.).

Storage

Good organization of stored materials is essential for overcoming material storage problems whether on a temporary or permanent basis. There will also be fewer strain injuries if the amount of handling is reduced, especially if less manual materials handling is required. The location of the stockpiles should not interfere with work but they should still be readily available when required. Stored materials should allow at least one metre (or about three feet) of clear space under sprinkler heads.

Stacking cartons and drums on a firm foundation and cross tying them, where necessary, reduces the chance of their movement. Stored materials should not obstruct aisles, stairs, exits, fire equipment, emergency eyewash fountains, emergency showers, or first aid stations. All storage areas should be clearly marked.

Flammable, combustible, toxic and other hazardous materials should be stored in approved containers in designated areas that are appropriate for the different hazards that they pose. Storage of materials should meet all requirements specified in the fire codes and the regulations of environmental and occupational health and safety agencies in your jurisdiction.

What amenities would you feature in a budget hotel property? In a midsized property? In a luxury property?

Budget Hotel Property

When it comes to hotels, the term “budget” often evokes visions of bland bedspreads, insipid artwork, rabbit-ear TV’s and a colour palette of boring beige. Traditionally, travelers looking for luxurious digs or distinctive design have had to shell out big bucks at boutique hotels like W or Kempton, while those watching their wallets settled for cookie-cutter budget chains. But over the past couple of years, this has started to change.

A number of new hotel chains are seeking to make boutique style accessible to travelers on a budget. Sometimes called “lifestyle hotels,” these unique properties feature cutting-edge design, high-tech amenities (like flat-screen TV’s and connectivity hubs for electronic gadgets) and lively public spaces intended to encourage mingling among guests — all at a modest price point.

To help keep rates low, most of these hotels feature some element of self-service; many have 24-hour self-service cafes, and some even let you check yourself in when you arrive. You’ll also find the bulk of these properties in suburbs, airport locations or smaller cities rather than in major downtown areas.

Many of these hotels target young business travelers, but they’re also a great option for leisure travelers looking for a stylish getaway — especially on weekends, when road warriors head home and rates go down. So if you’re sick of boring budget properties or you can no longer afford to pony up for a traditional boutique hotel, check out the following chains before you book your next trip.

Midsized hotel property

When it comes to hotels, the term “midsized” often it will be insipid as a class hotel which will be between 2 star-3star hotels. Traditionally, travelers looking for luxurious hotel or midsized hotel because there is a standard in this type rank of hotels.

To keep the name and the standard of the hotel most of the hotels will be a pleasure to help the customers many have 24-hour self-service cafes, and some even will come and serve the food in the room when you are in the room. This rank of hotel will always be in the heart of the city because it will attract tourist to come and stay.

Many of these hotels target business travelers, but they’re also a great option for leisure travelers looking for a stylish getaway especially on weekends. This type of hotel they will have a conference room to conduct meeting.

Luxury hotel

Luxury boutique hotels are those that do not have chains across different places; rather they have a stylish appearance and feature meticulous amenities for the customers. They are also commonly referred to as the design hotels or even the lifestyle hotels. Luxury boutique hotels are the call and demand of the day.

There is a wide collection of ultimate luxury hotels all across the world, and particularly in London. They feature business centres, poolside cabanas, fire pits, outdoor heated pools, conference rooms, fully equipped fitness centres, round the clock security, valet parking, and several other facilities that are a retreat for the senses. The major advantage of these luxury hotels is that they are different from the ordinary run of the mill hotels and feature their own charm and splendour. They can be hip or even historic. Their one major propelling aim is to be different from the traditional concepts of hotels in design, target market, and services offered. They offer highly personalized services which are usually not provided in the larger hotels. Various luxury resorts of the world offer canopy beds, fireplaces, and even bathrobes and the staff will even remember the names of the clients.

If you are looking forward to rejuvenate and replenish your mind and body, you must treat yourself at some luxury spa of the world. These spas will unlock exceptional experiences through the standards offered. Several luxury resorts of the world feature luxurious spas that bring back to life, those essential experiences cardinal for enhancing inner beauty and peace. The retreat combines itself with seawater’s healing properties. The soothing environment created at the spas in luxury resorts will enchant you.

Other than exotic spas, these luxury apartments offer all amenities as well as range from excellent room settings to exotic dining arrangements. In London, townhouses are also included in the luxury apartments. They form an excellent attraction for the tourists and are usually located at places that are conveniently connected to the main areas of the city. Each year, a large number of people visit these luxury apartments that offer the best of the amenities at the lowest possible prices.

Conclusion

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