Increase Productivity By Good Housekeeping Practices
Housekeeping and cleanliness refer to the processes which ensure
facilities, equipment,
work areas and
access routes are kept in good condition. This condition is required for supporting safe and reliable operation and maintenance of normal healthy life style. Further, the housekeeping and cleanliness both are interrelated. Reaching a good standard in one of them is difficult without reaching good standards in the other.
Good housekeeping and cleanliness normally results into:
- a workplace which is cleaner, safer, well organized and more pleasant for work,
- improved utilization of floor space,
- smoother and systematic workflow with substantial reduction in non-value added activities,
- better inventory control of tools and materials,
- reduced handling to ease the flow of materials,
- reduction in wastages of materials,
- more efficient equipment clean-up and maintenance leading to lower break-downs,
- minimization of errors leading to better products,
- Safe environment for work and lower exposures of employees to hazardous substances (such as dusts, and vapours etc.),
- more hygienic workplace conditions which lead to improved health of the employees,
- improved overall look and feel of the work environment,
- Improved morale of the employees.
- Poor housekeeping and cleanliness, on the contrary, creates workplace hazards which lead to various accident such as
- slips, trips and falls,
- caught in-between objects,
- struck by falling objects,
- struck by moving objects,
- cut/stabbed by objects,
- Struck against objects.
Good housekeeping and cleanliness practices plan and manage an orderly storage and movement of materials from point of entry to exit.
HISTORY OF HOUSEKEEPING INDUSTRYBack in 1983, we hardly had any equipment. There were no vacuum cleaners. People had to manually sit, swab, mop, clean. Cleaning done in earlier centuries manually. They clean by broom, sponge, duster etc. They don’t have any equipment’s for cleaning. Even there is no advancement in cleaning materials. And they are not able to make their surroundings germ free or fully sanitized as it required.
They are not able to clean properly carpets, floors, sofas, windows, gate, bedding, glass etc. After having these kind of problems people start thinking for advanced cleaning then invented
cleaning equipment’s in world for best cleaning.
Advanced cleaning equipment’s are used now days for best cleaning or to make our surroundings neat n clean. These are the changes made in housekeeping industry that people used to follow professional cleaning services. For better
Housekeeping services employees are trained to give the best services to customers. Hence
employees training are an essential part of good
housekeeping and cleanliness practice. Employees need to know how to work safely with the products they use.
Elements of housekeeping and cleanliness at workplace;The major elements which are normally included in the housekeeping and cleanliness practices at the workplace are described below.
Dust and dirt removal – If dust and dirt are allowed to accumulate on surfaces, there is a potential for a slip hazard. Hence, regular sweeping the workplace for the removal of dust and dirt is an essential housekeeping and cleanliness practice.
Employee facilities – Adequate employees’ facilities such as drinking water, wash rooms, toilet blocks, and rest rooms etc. are to be provided for the employees at the workplace so that employees can use them when there is a need. Cleanliness at the place of these facilities is an important aspect of the facilities.
Flooring – Floors are to be cleaned regularly and immediately if liquids or other materials are spilled. Poor floor conditions are a leading cause of accidents in the workplace.
Lighting – Adequate lighting reduces the potential for accidents. It is to be ensured that inoperative light fixtures are repaired and dirty light fixtures are cleaned regularly so that the light intensity levels are maintained at the workplace.
Aisles and stairways – Aisles and stairways are to be kept clear and not to be used for storage. Warning signs and mirrors can improve sight lines in blind corners and help prevent accidents.
Spill control – The best method to control spills is to prevent them from happening. Regular cleaning and maintenance on machines and equipment is an essential practice. When cleaning a spill, it is required to use the proper cleaning agents or absorbent materials. It is also to be ensured that the waste products are disposed of properly.
Waste disposal – The regular collection of the waste materials contribute to good housekeeping and cleanliness practices. It also makes it possible to separate materials that can be recycled from those going to waste disposal facilities. All recyclable wastes after their collection are to be transferred to their designated places so that the waste materials can be dispatched to the point of use or sold.
Tools and equipment – Tools and equipment are required to be inspected prior to their use. Damaged or worn tools are to be taken out of service immediately. Tools are to be cleaned and returned to their storage place after use.
Maintenance – One of the most important elements of good housekeeping and cleanliness practices is the maintenance of the equipment and the buildings housing them. This means keeping buildings, equipment and machinery in safe and efficient working condition.
Storage – Proper storage of materials is essential in a good housekeeping and cleanliness practice. Flammable, combustible, toxic and other hazardous materials are to be stored in approved containers in designated areas which are appropriate for the different hazards that they pose. If materials are being stored correctly, then the incidents of strain injuries, chemical exposures and fires get reduced drastically.
Clutter control – Cluttered workplaces typically happen because of poor housekeeping practices. This type of workplace can lead to a number of issues which include ergonomic as well as injuries. It is important to develop practices where items like tools, chemicals, cords, and containers are returned to their appropriate storage location when not in use.
Individual workspace – Individual workspace need to be kept neat, cleared of everything not needed for work. It is necessary to make a checklist which is to be used by the employees to evaluate their workspace.
Services provided by Housekeeping-Domestic Cleaning Services;1- Sofa Cleaning
2- Carpet Cleaning
3- Chair Cleaning
4- Car Cleaning
5- Floor Cleaning
6- Carpet Cleaning
7- Tiles Scrubbing
8- Washroom Cleaning
9- Water Tank Cleaning
10- Water Harvesting Tank Cleaning
11- Glass Cleaning
12- Façade Cleaning
13- House Cleaning
14- Office Cleaning
Through healthy housekeeping and cleanliness practices, the organization not only keep the workplace neat and clean, but also save on a whole lot of resources which in turn helps in improvement of the profitability of the organization.
All the employees of the organization play an integral role in housekeeping and cleanliness. At this time employees are expected to inspect, clean and remove unused or discarded materials. It is important to train workers to keep their areas clean in order to minimize
hazards as well as reduce the
amount of time needed to clean.
Demand for housekeeping will grow with the growth of healthcare, multinationals and malls, residential complexes, airlines, airports and other segments.
