Toolbox Talk

SAFETY TOOLBOX MEETING

HOUSEKEEPING.

Poor housekeeping results in accidents. Many reportable accidents are either directly or indirectly caused by
poor housekeeping arrangements, i.e. rubbish or poorly stored material in access ways causing people to trip and

Photograph showing :

 Rubbish left lying around

 Blocked access way

 Unstable stacked material

fall.

Good housekeeping at work has the same importance as in the home.

Do not rely on others to put things away - they won’t.
It’s just as easy to put tools away tidily as it is to leave them lying around on benches, on the floor, on scaffolding,
resting on pipes or other positions where they could create a tripping hazard, fall onto a person, or be damaged in
a fall.
You will also be able to find them when you next need them.

REMEMBER – A place for everything and everything in its place.

If dismantling anything, stack parts away neatly and tidily. Do not leave materials in gangways, they could cut off
someone’s escape route or cause a tripping hazard.
If dismantling anything constructed of wood, make sure all nails are removed. If this is not possible hammer the
nails flat, making sure that no part of the nail is left protruding that could cause injury to fellow employees.
All rubbish should be put into skips as it accumulates. In this way, should a fire occur, it will be confined to a
small area and dealt with quickly and efficiently, thus preventing the fire spreading, especially in high winds.

REMEMBER – Rubbish left lying around is also a trip hazard to the person following you.

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 Toolbox Talk
If tools get damaged, get them repaired or replaced. Do not leave them lying around, as again, they are a trip
hazard.

If you notice rubbish piling up which you cannot remove, bring it to the attention of your supervisor, who will make
arrangements to have it removed.

Should you be working at height and notice loose objects on boards or walkways, put them somewhere where
they cannot be dislodged. They could fall onto someone working below and seriously injure them.

Materials must be stored in the dedicated storage areas in a tidy and safe manner, otherwise trip hazards will
exist or stacked materials will fall.

When stacking materials always :-

 Use racks for lengths of pipes or timber

 Ensure pallets are not stacked to high or are
unstable
 Keep all access ways clear

Photograph showing :

 Safely stacked materials

 Unrestricted access

When finishing work, put overalls and other gear in lockers provided, don’t just leave things lying around hoping
they will be there when you return.

REMEMBER - A clean and tidy site is a SAFE SITE.

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