| Tool-Box Talk
November 14th, 2011
Good Housekeeping Picture this: You take the time to replace a bulb that was out on your truck before you leave the yard. You get to your jobsite and do a wonderful text book job of setting up your signs & cones lastly you dawn your reflective vest all in the name of safety. Now picture this: The bulb cover, cones and traffic signs are all caked in mud, the reflective parts of your vest have crumpled and fallen off and the only reason you can make out where it used to be reflective is because that is the only part free from oil stains. The only thing that would make this worse is if soda bottles poured out of the cab every time you opened the door. I am not saying that any one has done this I just exaggerated to illustrate a point. My point is this: all of the steps that were taken in the first paragraph were effectively voided by the poor housekeeping techniques in the second paragraph. This week I wanted to focus on the undersold side of good housekeeping. Too often do toolbox talks only focus on the industrial side of this equation by emphasizing things like keeping stairways and hallways clear. I agree that this is important; however, in our line of work the average employee doesn't always cone in contact with stairways or hallways during their daily routine. We all know that poor housekeeping can lead to slips, trips and falls causing sprains, strains and fractures but keeping equipment clean and in good repair is also important. If the reflective materials on cones, traffic signs and on your vest are covered in mud a motorist cannot easily identify them doing you, your crew and the motorist no good. Housekeeping is everyone's job - every worker and every supervisor. Look at it as doing preventative maintenance. Spending ten or fifteen minutes a day giving your equipment a little TLC could keep you from spending ten to fifteen days out of work. | 
