PEER CONSTRUCTIONS INTRANET

Housekeeping policy

Good housekeeping is a necessary requirement for maintaining safety at construction sites. Clean and tidy work sites hold fewer hazards for all employees. Accidents and injuries are avoided, and productivity improved where good housekeeping is a daily occurrence.

Purpose

This policy provides guidelines for housekeeping standards to ensure a safe work environment on PEER Construction sites.

The policy:

  • sets a standard for PEER Construction in terms of housekeeping requirements and environmental protection.
  • aligns with the standard set by the PEER Construction Policies and procedures manual and legislative requirements, especially the Equal Opportunity Act 1984, Work Health and Safety Act 2012 and the Environment Protection Act 1993.

 

Scope

This procedure applies to activities carried out at PEER Construction.

Walk around assessment

Many injuries are associated with different types of construction. Hazards that cause these injuries can be reduced or eliminated completely with proper site inspection and adequate housekeeping practices. The things that should be observed are below.

Housekeeping issues

The manager shall walk around the facility or work site to assess and identify main housekeeping issues.

The manager will look for a lack of order, un-removed spills or obstructions, check for rubbish or poorly stored materials, or other hazards due to poor organisation or poor housekeeping. They will ask employees in each area to identify and recommend corrective actions for their area.

Employees should:

  • collect and remove debris
  • plan for the disposal of scrap, waste, and surplus materials
  • keep the work area and all equipment tidy
  • keep all work areas well lit
  • create waste material areas and provide containers for disposal
  • keep stairways, passageways, ladders, scaffold, and gangways free of material, supplies and obstructions
  • secure loose or light material that is stored on roofs or open floors
  • keep all materials at least 2m (5 ft.) from openings, roof edges, excavations, or trenches
  • remove or flatten nails that are protruding from lumber
  • keep hoses, power cords, welding leads, etc. out of heavily travelled walkways or areas
  • ensure structural openings are covered/protected adequately (e.g. sumps, shafts, floor openings, etc.)
  • use danger or caution tape where open trenches or excavations could pose a hazard
  • make sure the ground is level wherever scaffolding or ladders are set up
  • not permit debris to fall freely from any level of the project (use chutes or other approved devices to remove materials from upper work levels)
  • not throw tools or other materials
  • not raise or lower any tool or equipment by its own cable or supply hose.
Machines
  • Keep the area around machines clear of combustibles, slip and trip hazards, or any other debris.
  • Inspect machines before use.
  • Ensure that all guards are in place and operating properly.
  • Follow lockout/tagout procedures when servicing or repairing a machine.
  • When done using the machine, put away tools and clean up both the machine and the work area.
Hand and power tools
  • Store blades and sharp tools carefully so that they do not create a hazard when not in use.
  • Store new blades for band saws, circular saws, or utility knives in labelled boxes so someone does not accidentally stick his or her hands inside and get cut.
  • When it is time to discard an old blade, cover the sharp edge with tape or cardboard and discard the blade directly into a metal trash container or Dumpster.
  • Keep blades on utility knives sheathed or retracted when not in use.

Other requirements

There are other considerations and requirements when conducting housekeeping.

Tools and equipment requirements
  • All employees must be trained in the safe use of tools and equipment they operate on site.
  • Employees must follow manufacturer’s instructions for the correct use of guard and safety features for tools and equipment they operate.
  • Guards must not be removed from equipment to perform any work activity.
  • All tools and equipment are to be inspected for any faults or defects before use. Any items found to be faulty or defective must be isolated or removed from service to prevent inadvertent use.
  • Report any faults and defects to your supervisor.
  • Do not leave tools and equipment running without the operator present, unless they are designed to operate automatically and with suitable control measures in place and/or without operator attendance.
Storage of tools
  • Keep your tools covered up away from dirt and rain when not in use. Inspect tools for any signs of damage or corrosion if they have not been used for a while.
  • Keep your tools in a dry place. Moisture and condensation may cause corrosion and rust of your tools. Some enclosed spaces like garages and basements may have humidity issues especially if tools are kept on shelves or pegboards. A dehumidifier could be useful to remove humidity.
  • Store power tools in their original cases. If your tools came in a plastic case, keep them in the case when they are not in use. The hard cases are made to protect the tools and designed to keep the humidity out
  • Use silica gel packs or rust collector. Silica gel packs keep moisture out and come in a lot of packaging. Place them in your toolboxes to reduce the possibility of rust.
Reporting

You must report any identified faults to site the supervisor or manager and removed from service.

Procedures

Follow the procedures to ensure safe housekeeping.

Clean up site procedures
  • Rubbish bins or cages will be placed on the site for disposal of building waste and will be emptied when necessary. If bins or cages have not been placed on site, find a suitable area onsite to store waste. Workers may also need to remove waste when they leave a site.
  • All workers must place all waste materials in the rubbish bins or cages provided and not leave waste in any undesignated areas on the site.
  • Where a recycling initiative is in place, waste is to be deposited into the appropriately marked containers. Tools, materials, and waste must be stored in designated or suitable areas. Pathways and access ways must always be kept clear. All tripping hazards must be removed or covered. Where practicable work areas (e.g. drop saw set up and other cutting) are to be set up outside in a safe area.
  • PEER Construction should be notified as soon as is reasonably practicable if there is an issue with waste or material storage, (e.g. bin or cage is full, or the site is untidy).
  • If any worker fails to manage their waste appropriately and leaves the site in an untidy, unclean, or unsafe manner, they may be required to pay the cost of clean up, rectification and/or removal.
Clean up equipment procedures
  • Tools and equipment should be cleaned after use to minimise deterioration caused by dirt and grit. They should be stored safely to maintain high quality of equipment.
  • All tools must be unplugged before cleaning. Use an air compressor to get the dust off, otherwise, wipe tools down and lubricate any moving parts. Be sure to check the manufacturers manual for cleaning instructions.
  • Remove excess concrete or cement residue from tools immediately after you have finished using them. Failing to do this will make tools and equipment difficult to use and inefficient to operate.
  • During storage, handling, and use, finishing tools should be stored so that the surface in contact with the concrete is not accidentally damaged or bent.
  • If storage is to be for a considerable time, tools can be coated with a light application of WD40 oil to prevent corrosion.
  • Clean and service, checking for damage or loose parts, any equipment to be stored after being on site.

Any defective machine should be tagged as defective. This will lead to it being repaired quickly and prevent it being taken on site in a poor condition.

Equipment inspection

Tool inspections should be done at the end of each job for any sign of damage and function faults.

Inspection checks should include:

  • Loose, cracked, or splintered handles. Replace handles that are heavily cracked or splintered. If the condition isn’t too bad, sand the handle until it is smooth enough to run your hand along it without suffering any splinters and finish with a coat of linseed oil.
  • Continued use can cause sharp edges on tools to become malformed and unsafe to use as they can shattering from impact.
  • Corroded or rusted tools may be unsafe to use in which case replace these tools or if the damage isn’t too bad remove the rust.
  • If a power tool has more than a hairline crack on the housing, do not use it.
  • Power tools that do not start easily. are not safe to use. Try to lubricate the tool to see if you can get it going, otherwise, repair it.
  • Repair any frayed insulation or exposed wires before use.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

PEER Construction will provide appropriate PPE in good condition which must be worn by employees performing housekeeping activities.

PPE must not be used as a substitute for engineering, safe work practice, or administrative controls for preventing exposure to recognised physical or chemical hazards.

PPE for housekeeping operations include:

  • eye protection
  • gloves
  • safety boots
  • dust masks
  • other items such as protective clothing, respirators, and hearing protection, depending on the hazards.

Employees involved in housekeeping activities will:

  • inspect PPE checking for signs of wear or damage before each use.
  • keep PPE clean.
  • store PPE properly according to instructions on labels or received during training to prevent damage or contamination from dirt or chemicals.
  • replace PPE when it is worn out, damaged, or no loner provides the protection that is required.

When performing housekeeping tasks, employees will select the right equipment for the job, including the right PPE. Employees must consult with a supervisor concerning appropriate PPE when starting a new job or housekeeping task.

Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA)
Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA)
Environment Protection Act 1993

Housekeeping checklist

Version 1.0 – Last updated 6/2/2022