Importance of House Keeping in Manufacturing Industries

Housekeeping refers to the management of duties and chores involved in the running of operations such as maintenance or record-keeping which facilitate productive work in an organization.

Every worker should play a role in housekeeping, even if that means keeping his or her own workspace clean. Moreover, Housekeeping should be an ongoing process and not a one-time practice.

Importance of Housekeeping:

1. Housekeeping can prevent injuries which can help lower costs. Worker injuries lead to missed days at work, higher workers’ compensation premiums, and increased spending on the hiring and training of new or temporary workers.

2. It helps in maintaining good control over the processes.

3. It assists in maintaining the quality of the product.

4. It provides a big boost to the image of the organization.

5. It improves hygienic conditions leading to improved health.

6. It decreases janitorial work.

7. It makes an effective use of space and thus eases the flow of materials.

8. It improves preventive maintenance that can help reduce property damage.

5 tips of housekeeping:

1. Prevent slips, trips and falls:

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 Labour Statistics.

All workplaces should be “kept clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition.” Employers should select adequate flooring (e.g., cement, ceramic tile or another material), as different types of flooring hold up better under certain conditions.

2. Eliminate fire hazards:

Employees are responsible for keeping unnecessary combustible materials from accumulating in the work area. Combustible waste should be “stored in covered metal receptacles and disposed of daily,” according to OSHA’s Hazardous Materials Standard (1910.106).

The National Safety Council “Supervisors’ Safety Manual” includes these precautionary measures for fire safety:

1. Keep combustible materials in the work area only in amounts needed for the job. When they are unneeded, move them to an assigned safe storage area.

2. Store quick-burning, flammable materials in designated locations away from ignition sources.

3. Avoid contaminating clothes with flammable liquids. Change clothes if contamination occurs.

4. Keep passageways and fire doors free of obstructions. Stairwell doors should be kept closed. Do not store items in stairwells.

5. Keep materials at least 18 inches away from automatic sprinklers, fire extinguishers and sprinkler controls. The 18-inch distance is required, but 24 to 36 inches is recommended. Clearance of 3 feet is required between piled material and the ceiling. If stock is piled more than 15 feet high, clearance should be doubled. Check applicable codes, including Life Safety Code, ANSI/NFPA 101-2009.

6. Hazards in electrical areas should be reported, and work orders should be issued to fix them.

3. Control dust:

Dust can harm the machines and workers health. As per the norms, the machines which are creating dust must be placed in remote area or we have to cover the machine. Also provide mask, glasses and helmets to the worker.

4. Determine frequency:

As per the observation in few days, we can determine the frequency of cleanliness- like twice a day. Also we can find the appropriate time for cleaning so that main work is not disturbed.

5. Create written rules:

Policies are formal and defined. Written protocols could specify which cleaners, tools and methods are to be used. The written part of the protocols and defined training are important so that people are aware of and follow the proper procedures.

Conclusion:

A good housekeeping is not “achieved”, it is “maintained.” One study published in the International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics found that incidents in a shipyard were reduced by 70-90% once steps were taken to improve housekeeping practices and productivity increased by 15%.