Cleanliness Is Good For Business

Let's face it, clean is good! Who doesn't enjoy putting on clean clothes, entering a clean house, driving a clean car?

Sometimes, however, we forget the importance of keeping things clean, both at home and at work. It can be a struggle to eliminate the spread of germs as well as keep up with general cleaning in the workplace. The good news is that there are a few key things you can do to help keep your facility clean, efficient, and safe!

Eliminating Germs at Work with Hand Washing Basics and Hand Wipes

First of all, stay home when you're sick! This is probably the easiest way to prevent the spread of germs that cause colds and the flu. If you must be present at work when you're sick, there are a few other options to consider:

Hand Washing : Use proper methods for washing your hands thoroughly. A common rule of thumb is to wash hands in warm water with hand wipes or gel sanitizers. Encourage your coworkers to wash their hands frequently, as germs can live for several hours on various surfaces!
Sanitize Surfaces : To properly sanitize surfaces, you can use a bleach solution (about 1 to 2 teaspoons per gallon of cool water), or commercially-available sprays and cleaners (use according to manufacturer's instructions). For best results when using a bleach solution, spray it on and let it dry. Be sure to make fresh bleach solutions frequently as the effectiveness of the solution decreases over time.


Good Housekeeping Benefits

Keeping a facility clean and orderly is great for eliminating hazards and reducing injuries and illnesses. There are many benefits of good housekeeping:

Conservation of space, equipment, operating materials, time, and effort
Protection of product, materials, and personnel results in smaller inventories, fewer accidents, compensation claims and instances of damaged merchandise
Decreased likelihood of fires
An improvement in morale through a clean and orderly workplace.

It is common sense that a facility that is well-kept will be less likely to pose hazards. Workplaces present dangers when aisles and exits are blocked, when debris litters the floor, or where tools and equipment are simply not put away. A cluttered, unkempt workplace lends itself to slips, trips, and falls.

Before leaving an area, assess it to make sure that it is free of potential hazards. Below is a checklist to help:

Check the area for debris and other hazards such as oil spills, broken pallets, loose wire and banding
Put tools and equipment back in their places
Make sure that personal belongings are either locked up or under control
Make sure switches, lights, and equipment are turned off
In traffic areas, remove power cords before they cause problems for forklift operators or pedestrians

Suggested Solutions

Here are some best practice solutions that can help facilities be clean and more productive.

Hand Sanitizing Wipes
Hard Surface Disinfecting Wipes
Well stocked and smartly located Spill Kits to handle spills and large leaks
Absorbents to contain leaks from machinery to prevent slip hazards
Shelf liners to catch drips from tools and equipment