Housekeeping
General info only. These talks don't replace your company's safety program, your site rules, or OSHA rules. Follow those first, and ask your safety lead if something here doesn't match.
Start here
Most trips and a lot of cuts come from mess. Good housekeeping is not about looking nice. It keeps people from getting hurt.
Key points
- Clean as you go. Don't leave it for the end of the day.
- Keep walkways, stairs, and exits clear.
- Coil cords and hoses, and run them where people won't trip.
- Pull or bend over nails in scrap lumber, and get it to the pile.
- Put trash in the dumpster, not in a corner.
- Clean up spills right away or mark them until you can.
- Store materials flat and stable so they can't roll or fall.
Bottom line: Take 5 minutes before break and lunch to clean up your area.
Talk it over
- Where on site do things pile up the most?
- What trip hazards did you step over on the way in today?
- How can we make cleanup part of the routine instead of an afterthought?
Before you wrap up: have everyone sign the sign-in sheet, write today's date and the topic, and note any questions or hazards the crew brought up. Need a sheet? Use the free toolbox talk template.
Next talk: Struck-By Hazards →