Ithaca College

Poor housekeeping can frequently contribute to accidents by hiding hazards that cause injuries.

Housekeeping is not just cleanliness. It includes keeping work areas neat and orderly; maintaining halls and floors free of slip and trip hazards; and removing of waste materials (e.g., paper, cardboard) and other fire hazards from work areas.

Good housekeeping is a basic part of accident and fire prevention.

Here are a few housekeeping reminders that you can easily follow every day.

• Keep your work area clean, free of clutter, and arranged properly
• Keep doorways, aisles, hallways and stairways clear of obstructions
• Do not allow unnecessary materials (papers, magazine, etc.) to accumulate
• Keep stored materials at least 18 inches away from automatic sprinklers
• Empty recycling and trash before it overflows
• Ensure that office lighting is adequate and available. Request that burned out light bulbs are replaced
• Ensure that electrical cords and phone cords do not cross walkways or otherwise pose a tripping hazard
• Inspect and Replace frayed, torn, or otherwise damaged electrical cords, cables, etc
• Close drawers when they are not in use
• Do not place heavy objects on top of cabinets, utilize the lower shelves for heavy items
• Report spills or clean them up immediately