Then, develop and implement procedures using appropriate cleaners.

Drainage should be present where вЂњwet processes are used.вЂќД®mployers should select adequate flooring (e.g., cement, ceramic tile or another material), as different types of flooring hold up better under certain conditions, said Fred Norton, technical director of ergonomics and manufacturing technology for Risk Control Services, Liberty Mutual Insurance in Walnut Creek, CA. OSHAвЂ™s Walking-Working Surfaces Standard (1910.22(a)) states that all workplaces should be вЂњkept clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition.вЂќ The rule includes passageways, storerooms and service rooms. Slips, trips and falls were the second leading cause of nonfatal occupational injuries or illnesses involving days away from work in 2013, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition, housekeeping should have managementвЂ™s commitment so workers realize its importance. Experts agree that all workplace safety programs should incorporate housekeeping, and every worker should play a part. The practice extends from traditional offices to industrial workplaces, including factories, warehouses and manufacturing plants that present special challenges such as hazardous materials, combustible dust and other flammables.

It also can help an employer avoid potential fines for non-compliance. It can help prevent injuries and improve productivity and morale, as well as make a good first impression on visitors, according to Cari Gray, safety consultant for the Ohio Bureau of WorkersвЂ™ Compensation. Housekeeping is crucial to safe workplaces. To some people, the word вЂњhousekeepingвЂќ calls to mind cleaning floors and surfaces, removing dust, and organizing clutter.Д«ut in a work setting, it means much more. Housekeeping should be an ongoing process, not a one-time practice. Housekeeping can help prevent injuries and improve productivity.Д®very worker should play a role in housekeeping, even if that means keeping his or her own workspace clean.

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