Alameda County Law Library Building
125 - 12th Street, 3rd Floor, Oakland, CA 94607 · 510-272-6920

Housekeeping

Good housekeeping is a good indicator of a safe workplace. You can tell how workers feel about safety just by looking at their housekeeping practices. Clean areas such as workstations, vehicles, aisles, stairwell, restrooms, break room, cafeterias, parking lots, and other work areas help eliminate slip/trip/fall and fire hazards. Not only do you promote safety, you also increase productivity and morale.

Some housekeeping practices include:

Keeping aisles cleared of garbage cans, boxes, stepstool, and other items
Keeping tools and equipment clean and in good working condition; discard them if they are broken
Keeping computer cables and electrical cords bundled
Cleaning up water/oil/food spilled on the floor immediately
Closing open cabinet drawers immediately
Returning tools and equipment to their proper place
Keeping the manual paper cutter blade in a locked position
Storing heavy items on the lower shelves

Besides preventing accidents and injuries, good housekeeping saves space, time, and materials. When a workplace is clean, orderly, and free of obstruction; the employee can get the work done safely and properly. Workers feel better, think better and increase the quantity and quality of their work.

Good housekeeping is an on-going process and requires a conscious effort and energy by everybody. It is everybody's responsibility to maintain good housekeeping.

Resources:

Inspections and training on housekeeping can be provided by the Risk Management Unit. Please contact Laura Kitsch, Risk Analyst / Safety Manager at 510-272-6698 or tie-line 2-6698.