Workplace and Home Hazards Identification and Mitigation

Workplace and Home Hazards Identification and Mitigation

It is true that house cleaning is a regular and very important responsibility for all of us. However, we sometimes overlook that good housekeeping is a key duty on the job too.

The orderly arrangement of work areas is vital to the safety of all employees and employers as well. Most of the on-the-job deaths are caused by falls, trips and slips, many of which result from just plain poor housekeeping practices. Falls often result from tripping over loose articles such as tools left in aisle ways and work areas, spilled water or oil not cleaned, spent grease, cable crossing the walkway and so on.

Wet spots on the floor, trash and other articles left in stairways also take their toll. During rainy and snowing season, you know what happens. Tracked-in water is a serious problem at work and home, as well as wet spots. These should be cleaned up immediately, regardless of whose responsibility it is to clean up.

Trash receptacles placed in several strategic areas will also curb the habit of indiscriminate waste disposal both at home and workplace. Like we have always said, if   there should be a broken bottle on the floor, never attempt to pick up the glass with bare hands, wear gloves or sweep up the pieces.

Same practice should be used for cleaning up nails and other sharp objects, remember, it’s a lot easier to work when the job site is neat.

Tools and equipment should be off the floor and stored in their proper places. A thing for a place and a place for a thing. This reduces tripping hazards and protects the equipment as well. We have to do it ourselves and get everyone to imbibe the habit.

Stop and think "How many times have you left stuff piled with an intent to return to clean it up? What if there is an emergency and the first person to get to the pile does not know that the hazard exists?"

When storing materials or equipment on the job or at home, take time to make it neat. It's unsafe to stack things too high, especially where there is work traffic or high volume operations. There is no gain saying that heavy objects should be placed on lower drawers while light objects take the upper role.

As a precaution, always keep your eyes open for changes in defense, look out for danger signals like loose flooring, tools, equipment and other things out of place, or other unsafe conditions. Take timely or immediate action to effect correction, encourage others to do the same.

We are all dependent on each other for safety, no one person does it all. It is therefore up to each and every one of us to hold ourselves accountable for a safe workplace and home. When each of us keep own area in order, the whole job site becomes a safer place to work. And for our homes, we stand the chance of recording less domestic incidents.

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