Toolbox Talk: Workplace Housekeeping

Before you start

Walk the area before the talk and pick one good example and one area that needs work.

Read this to your crew

A messy work area causes trips, cuts, fires and struck-by injuries. It also makes it harder to find tools and get out quickly in an emergency.

Today we will talk about simple housekeeping habits that make the whole site safer.

Key points

Clean as you go. Do not leave it all for the end of the shift. Put tools and materials back when you finish with them.
Keep exits and walkways clear. Never block exits, fire extinguishers, electrical panels or eyewash stations.
Manage waste. Put scrap, packaging and rags in the right bins, and keep oily rags in a closed metal container.
Control dust and spills. Clean up spills right away and do not let dust build up on surfaces.
Stack materials safely. Stack items stable and not too high, with heavy items low.

Ask the crew

Which area here gets messy fastest?
Do we have enough bins, and are they in the right places?
What is blocking an exit, panel or extinguisher right now?

Picture this

Offcuts and packing straps pile up next to a saw station over a busy week. An operator steps back, catches a strap and falls into the bench. Five minutes of clean-up at the end of each shift would have prevented it.

Print this page to use the sign-in sheet, or skip the paper and record attendance digitally in SafetyIQ.

Name

Company / crew

Signature

Talk leader: ______________ Date: ______________ Site: ______________