4.2.1 Rule 1060: Premises of Establishment

Rule 1060.01 (Premises of Establishments) of the Occupational Safety and Health Standard (OSHS) states that:

– Good housekeeping shall be maintained at all times through cleanliness of building, yards, machines and equipment, regular waste disposal and orderly processes, operations, storage and filing of materials.

Rule 1150.01(Materials Handling and Storage) of the OSHS also states that:

– Storage areas shall be kept free from accumulations of materials that constitute hazards from tripping, fire, explosion or pest harborage. Vegetation control shall be exercised when necessary.

Both Rules refer to good housekeeping as strategy to keep workplaces free from safety hazards of trip, fire, explosion, etc.

Good housekeeping practices can help control or eliminate workplace hazards. It is based on the premise that if a workplace accepts debris, clutters, spills and disorder as normal, then other more serious hazards may be taken for granted.

Housekeeping is not just cleanliness. It is also:

– keeping work areas neat and orderly;
– maintaining halls and floors free of slip and trip hazards;
– removing waste materials and other fire hazards from work areas; and
– keeping the discipline among employees to sustain the practice.

Poor housekeeping can cause accidents like:

– tripping over clutters on floors, stairs, platforms;
– being hit by falling objects;
– slipping on greasy, wet and dirty surfaces;
– striking against projecting and poorly stacked items or misplaced materials; and
– cutting, puncturing or tearing the skin on projecting nails, wire or steel strapping.

On the other hand, good housekeeping:

– prevents accidents;
– prevents fire;
– prevents illnesses (poor housekeeping attracts pests that can make workers sick);
– improves productivity; and
– boosts employee morale.