Why should I practice good housekeeping, personal cleanliness and maintain equipment?

Why should I practice good housekeeping, personal cleanliness and maintain equipment?

Good housekeeping, personal cleanliness and equipment maintenance are important wherever any chemicals, including corrosives, are used.

Maintain cleanliness and order at all times in the workplace:

• Clean up any spills and buildups of corrosives promptly and safely.
• Properly dispose of unlabelled or contaminated chemicals.
• Remove empty containers at once from work areas.
• Ensure that all containers for waste are properly marked and easily located.

Personal cleanliness is a very important way of protecting personnel working with hazardous chemicals.

• Wash hands before eating, drinking, smoking or going to the toilet.
• Remove and clean contaminated clothing before wearing it again, or discard it.
• Do not smoke, drink, chew gum or eat in any areas where hazardous chemicals are present.
• Store food and tobacco products in uncontaminated areas.
• Avoid touching yourself with contaminated hands.
• Clean yourself thoroughly at the end of the workday.

Regular maintenance of equipment is important in preventing leaks or emissions of corrosives into the workplace.

• Ensure maintenance personnel know the possible hazards of the materials they might be exposed to.
• Be sure they know any special procedures and precautions that might be needed before they begin to work on equipment.

Regular workplace inspections can help in spotting areas where health and safety problems may be developing.