According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in recent years there are more than 800 injuries annually involving floors, walkways, and ground surfaces. OSHA issues hundreds of citations to companies for violations of poor housekeeping and OSHA lists housekeeping on their top 100 most frequently cited list. Workers should do their part to help avoid and prevent injuries and incidents by practicing good housekeeping on every job and at every worksite.
OSHA Standard 1926.25(a) says that during the course of construction, alteration, or repairs, form and scrap lumber with protruding nails, and all other debris, shall be kept cleared from work areas, passageways, and stairs, in and around buildings or other structures.
OSHA Standards 1926.252(c) All scrap lumber, waste material, and rubbish shall be removed from the immediate work area as the work progresses.
Remember these tips to improve housekeeping and worker safety:
Workers should do their part to help avoid and prevent injuries and incidents by practicing good housekeeping on every job
Always remove or hammer down nails from scrap lumber and other debris.
During construction separate waste or scrap materials from the immediate work area to avoid creating trip and slip hazards
Keep areas clear as the work progresses
Store pipe, conduit, rebar, and other rolling materials away from aisles and walkways to avoid creating trip hazards
Use designated waste bins, recycle bins, and metal scrap containers
When disposing of waste or materials on a multistory construction site use chutes or designated drop-off zones to avoid possible fall hazards
