Essence of Good Housekeeping

Essence of Good Housekeeping
Safety News
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Enhancing Safety Through Good
Housekeeping Practices
Introduction
A clean and tidy workplace enhances a company’s image and gives the
most visible evidence of its commitment and concern for safety and
health.
Poor housekeeping creates hazards for various types of accidents like

fire, struck by objects, trip, slip and fall; it is a factor in a wide variety of
accidents and injuries. Generally, housekeeping at the construction
worksite is ineffectively planned, implemented and monitored.
Apart from the safety hazards, good housekeeping practice is able to

keep pollutants out of our storm drain system and reservoirs. Materials
swept, blown, or washed into the storm drains end up in these open
waters where they degrade water quality and harm aquatic life. In
general, wastewater discharged to the storm drains is illegal.
Hence, it is imperative for contractors to institute a campaign and
inspection program to identify and control potential discharge of
pollutants to the storm drain system. Some of the pollutants that can get
into the storm drain system include grease, pesticides, paints, cement and
yard wastes. With good housekeeping practices in their daily activities, it
will help to reduce or eliminate their contribution to storm water
pollution.
Based on Land Transport Authority accident statistics in 2008, poor

housekeeping contributed directly to around 6% and indirectly to another
6% of reportable accidents.
This article aims to provide knowledge sharing platform on some good
initiatives and practices practiced by LTA contractors with highlights of
some sound housekeeping management
concepts.
Evidences of good housekeeping at a construction worksite are:
1. Clear delineated zones for:
a. Well labeled storage areas for different types of construction material
and
equipment;
b. Unobstructed access and egress paths; and
c. Holding areas for waste material.
2. Tidiness and cleanliness experienced in:

a. The entire compound of the construction worksite;
b. The canteen and resting areas; and
c. The site offices.
3. Well documented processes that standardize the high housekeeping

standard throughout the entire set-up.
The benefits of implementing a good housekeeping
system are:
• fewer struck by objects, tripping, slipping and falling accidents;
• reduced risks of fire hazard and exposure to hazardous substances;
• speed up evacuation in an emergency;
• better hygienic conditions;
• reduced materials handling;
• minimize damage to equipments and materials;
• better inventory control of tools and materials;
• more effective use of space;
• developing teamwork and instill good habits;
• improved morale; and
• improved productivity
Legislation
Applicable legislation associated with housekeeping:
1. The Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act states that it is the duty of
occupier of workplace to take, so far is as reasonably practicable, such
measure to ensure that all means of access to or egress from the
workplace are safe and without risks to health to every person within
those premises.
2. The WSH (General Provisions) Regulations require all goods to be stored,
stacked or placed in a manner that is safe and does not cause any
obstructions.
3. The WSH (Construction) Regulations require the occupier to ensure that
debris shall not be allowed to accumulate so as to constitute a hazard in
the worksite.
Examples of Good Housekeeping Initiatives and
Practices at Worksites
Zoning
For worksites of sizeable area, it is segregated into zones for
better management of housekeeping. Housekeeping teams are
set-up in accordance to the number of zones. Each team is
formed up with adequate number of workers. The housekeeping
teams are assigned to the various zones to carry out
housekeeping tasks on a daily basis.
Facilities
Facilities provisions are important in encouraging proper
disposal of waste and cleanliness of the worksite. Several types of
bins are provided at strategic locations catering to
different wastes. Organic waste bins are provided at all entry/ exit
points of the worksite including designated resting areas and food
consumption areas. Construction wastes bins are
located near to work areas. There are also bins provided for
recycling program to promote an environmentally friendly
culture.
Storage
When materials are delivered to the worksite it is stacked in an
orderly manner and barricaded at assigned storage areas with
demarcation. Highly flammable materials will be stored away
from any point of ignition. Proper planning of storage areas will
maximize the usage of the worksite especially for those with
space constraint and will reduce the amount of handling, thus,
reducing the exposure to hazards. Proper storage will also
alleviate any damage to equipments and materials.
Storage
Storage
Figure 1: Provision of Bins for Wastes & Recycle Program

Promotional Activities
To promote good housekeeping on worksite, theme on housekeeping is
broadcast through banners and signage at work areas. Awards are given out by
contractors periodically in recognition for those with exceptional effort in good
housekeeping. This will motivate everyone to strive towards a clean, tidy and
orderly workplace.
Awareness
To instill a good housekeeping culture, staff and workers are made
aware of the housekeeping standards during their Safety
Induction Course. They are also constantly reminded through
Tool-Box Meetings.
To build upon these good initiatives and practices, a widely
regarded housekeeping management concept - 5S can be
adopted to manage housekeeping effectively.
Figure 2: Proper Material Storage with Demarcation and Barricades

Mass Housekeeping
Mass housekeeping exercise is organized and conducted regularly with
adequate time allocated for the session to ensure effectiveness. To
demonstrate commitment, it is led by the main contractor’s management staff.
Inspections
Regular inspections on housekeeping are conducted to ensure
wastes are properly disposed and removed from the worksite. It is
also to ensure materials are stored in a neat and safe manner at
designated locations.
Figure 3: Clean and Orderly Worksite

5S Concept for Good Housekeeping
5S is a Japanese quality management concept based on a
cyclical methodology. It is a method for organizing a
workplace and often referred as a housekeeping method. The
main objectives are to enhance morale, safety and efficiency.
This management model is based on 5 Japanese words seiri,
seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke. Generally, these 5
Japanese words mean organize, orderliness, cleanliness,
standardize and discipline respectively.
This Japanese management concept is widely practiced by
organizations around the world.
Housekeeping Practs
Examples of Good Housekeeping Initiatives and Practices at Worksites
Figure 4: 5S Cyclical
Methodology
Source:http://www.
lean.state.mn.us/ph
otos.htm
Housekeeping Practs
Seiri (Organize)
This focuses on sorting out unnecessary items in the workplace and disposing it
away. (Figure 5 shows a guide to classifying unnecessary items).
Figure 5: Guide to Classifying Unnecessary Items

Housekeeping Practs
Seiton (Orderliness)
This relates to arrange necessary items in a neat, proper manner for easy retrieval
and to put back in their proper locations.
Figure 6: Guide to Classifying Necessary Items

Housekeeping Practs
Seiso (Cleanliness)
This describes the importance to clean and inspect the workplace
thoroughly.
Seiketsu (Standardize)
This is about maintaining a high standard of workplace
organization by keeping everything clean and orderly at all times.
Shitsuke (Discipline)
This conveys the need to train people to follow good
housekeeping standards religiously, and to observe self-discipline
through continuous practice.
Housekeeping Practs
Conclusion
The Japanese 5S Concept for Good Housekeeping goes
beyond regular cleaning of the worksite. It stresses on the
importance of proper waste storage and regular removal,
structured zoning for storage of construction materials, and
safe access and egress pathways, to ensure safety and
efficiency of worksite operation. The 5S Concept of Good
Housekeeping which is relevant to the construction sites
promotes that “a safe worksite is an efficient and productive
worksite”.
Reference
1. 5S Good Housekeeping, Singapore Productivity and Standards Board.
Leong Choong Yiok
Senior Executive, Safety and Health Safety Division

Essence of Good Housekeeping

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Essence of Good Housekeeping

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Essence of Good Housekeeping

Poor housekeeping creates hazards for various types of accidents like

Apart from the safety hazards, good housekeeping practice is able to

Based on Land Transport Authority accident statistics in 2008, poor

2. Tidiness and cleanliness experienced in:

3. Well documented processes that standardize the high housekeeping

Figure 1: Provision of Bins for Wastes & Recycle Program

Figure 2: Proper Material Storage with Demarcation and Barricades

Figure 3: Clean and Orderly Worksite

Figure 5: Guide to Classifying Unnecessary Items

Figure 6: Guide to Classifying Necessary Items

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