Myth #5 – Good housekeeping practices mean a safe workplace

Fifth in a Series from Chris Goulart

This myth is ubiquitous in the field of occupational safety and health.  Housekeeping standards and formal housekeeping programs like 5S are supposed to help workplaces improve both productivity and safety. The theory is that a clean workplace will create fewer slip, trip, and fall hazards.  Also, a clean and well organized workplace should required fewer motions by employees, thus aligning with Ergonomics and lowering the risks for employees to experience Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs).

Let us first try to look at the facts and see if there is more than just a feel good story here.  First, the vast majority of falls in the workplace are not the result of trips, they actually come from slips.  A number of studies have examined the anatomy of human beings while walking and have explored the causal factors relating to falls.  Based on the summaries of many of these studies I have read, the greatest single risk factor that leads persons to be more likely to slip and fall are compromised motor skills and compromised perceptive abilities. 

The highest risk group for experiencing slips, trips, and falls are those over 60.  Indeed, as persons age, both their propensity of experiencing a fall and the severity of that fall if it occurs increase exponentially.  It is not surprising that the elderly are among the most likely segment of the population to be injured in a fall.  Typically, older Americans will have both reduced motor functions and lower abilities to perceive changes in the environment.   An at risk group such as the elderly is more prone to falls than the general population. 

According to a Polish study of women, over 70% of all falls involved slips or trips on uneven surfaces.  In this study, no mention is made about the cause of the uneven surfaces, but it is implied that these are construction related surface deviations, not housekeeping related issues. Further, a 2007 CNA Insurance Study slips and falls are most likely to be caused by floor surfaces that are inherently slippery, not by trips over items left in travel paths.  However, this study does clearly implicate wet walking surfaces and their inherent decrease in the coefficient of friction as a cause of falls.  These surfaces are often wet during the cleaning process and are especially dangerous if they remain wet AFTER cleaning has concluded.  This would almost suggest that a focus on housekeeping contributes to the risk of falls.  This appears to be especially true if the housekeeping is undertaken in an incomplete manner.

Overall, the scientific literature is woefully incomplete regarding a well conducted and thoughtful survey of the causes of slips and falls.  However, when risks are identified and quantified as contributing to the chances of slipping and falling.  The risks are typically put in three broad categories.  1) Risks caused by impaired persons 2) Risks caused by poorly constructed surfaces and 3) Risks created environmental conditions.  No studies that were reviewed indicated any clear link between housekeeping standards and slips and falls. 

The second premise that suggests housekeeping may improve the level of safety is enhanced ergonomics.  If items and materials are placed in their proper location they will require fewer lifts, lowers, carries, and less handling.  Again, this may appear as a true statement until it is examined more closely.

Consider a basic situation, an employee returns a tool to a designated storage location after using it.  Shortly after that, another employee retrieves the tool for use in another work area and then returns it when they are finished.  After that, another employee procures the tool and uses it before returning it.  According to housekeeping standards, this is a solid practice.  In reality, if employees have to travel further and place the tool in remote or restricted locations, they may actually INCREASE the amount of times a tool or item is handled simply because they do return it to a designated location.  Leaving the tool or item out may reduce housekeeping, but it may also make the tool more accessible and available. 

In summary, it might make sense, anecdotally, that by raising housekeeping standards will inherently increase safe work standards, but no well conducted studies have been conducted to make that link. Until and unless a number of thoughtful studies are undertaken that quantify the specific results that housekeeping may, or may not, have on injury exposure, it is irresponsible to continue to repeat the mantra neatness equates to a safe workplace.  We just don’t know the facts.

Tagged as: Commentary, michigan, safety