Why should we pay attention to housekeeping at work?

Effective housekeeping can help control or eliminate workplace hazards. Poor

housekeeping practices frequently contribute to incidents. If the sight of paper,
debris, clutter and spills is accepted as normal, then other more serious hazards may
be taken for granted.
Housekeeping is not just cleanliness. It includes keeping work areas neat and
orderly, maintaining halls and floors free of slip and trip hazards, and removing of
waste materials (e.g., paper, cardboard) and other fire hazards from work areas. It
also requires paying attention to important details such as the layout of the whole
workplace, aisle marking, the adequacy of storage facilities, and maintenance. Good
housekeeping is also a basic part of incident and fire prevention.
Effective housekeeping is an ongoing operation: it is not a one-time or hit-and-miss
cleanup done occasionally. Periodic "panic" cleanups are costly and ineffective in
reducing incidents.

What is the purpose of workplace housekeeping?

Poor housekeeping can be a cause of incidents, such as:
tripping over loose objects on floors, stairs and platforms
being hit by falling objects
slipping on greasy, wet or dirty surfaces
striking against projecting, poorly stacked items or misplaced material
cutting, puncturing, or tearing the skin of hands or other parts of the body on
projecting nails, wire or steel strapping
To avoid these hazards, a workplace must "maintain" order throughout a workday.
Although this effort requires a great deal of management and planning, the benefits
are many.

What are some benefits of good housekeeping practices?

Effective housekeeping results in:
reduced handling to ease the flow of materials
fewer tripping and slipping incidents in clutter-free and spill-free work areas
decreased fire hazards
lower worker exposures to hazardous products (e.g. dusts, vapours)
better control of tools and materials, including inventory and supplies
more efficient equipment cleanup and maintenance
better hygienic conditions leading to improved health
more effective use of space
reduced property damage by improving preventive maintenance
less janitorial work
improved morale
improved productivity (tools and materials will be easy to find)
Do not forget out-of-the-way places such as shelves, basements, sheds, and boiler
rooms that would otherwise be overlooked.
Adequate lighting of factories is of vital importance, as it provides improved
amenities for the employees, increased production and has a definite economic
value in reducing accidents with their consequent loss of time and compensation
payments.
General Requirements and Types of Installations for Factory Lighting:
A factory lighting installation, in common with other indoor equipments should
provide an adequate illumination on the working plane and give a good distribution of
light, employ simple and easily cleaned fittings and avoid glare. It is essential not
only to avoid glare from the lamp itself but also reflected glare from any polished
surface, which may be within the line of vision.
i. General Lighting:
The usual scheme in factories and workshops is to mount a number of lamps at a
sufficient height so that uniform distribution of light over the working plane is
obtained. In large machine shops the height is governed by the necessity of keeping
the lamps above the travelling crane. In such cases it is often desirable to
supplement the main lighting by side lighting in order to give additional illumination
on a vertical plane. Since light coloured walls and ceiling add to the effectiveness of
an installation, therefore; it is necessary to get whitewashing or painting done.
ii. Local Lighting:
On some points fairly intense illumination is required. For this purpose local lighting
can be provided by means of adjustable fittings attached to the machine or bench in
question or mounted on portable floor standards. Such lamps should be mounted in
deep reflectors so that glare is avoided.
Local lighting should never be employed alone, good general lighting is essential so
that the dark places between the local lighting units are avoided. Dark places
between the local lighting units cause fatigue to the eyes on account of its continually
having to adjust itself to new conditions.
iii. Emergency Lighting:
Some lights, such as for:
(i) Internal pilot lighting required for safe and speedy evacuation of personnel after
main lighting circuit is off
(ii) External pilot lighting, provided with careful shades leading to shelters required
for evacuation of personnel
(iii) For control posts, first aid centres etc.
(iv) Dials and gauges in important plants required to be watched regularly are
required during an air raid when all the factory lights are off as a matter of air-raid
precaution.
The circuit supplying the above emergency lights should be independently
controlled. It is very desirable to provide auxiliary lighting from the source other than
the main electric supply preferably from batteries or from small petrol driven
generator set. If, however, emergency lighting circuits are operated from main
electric supply, these should be completely separated from main lighting circuit.
Maintenance of Factory Lighting:
In order to maintain the fittings in a condition of reasonable efficiency it is necessary
to clean the light fittings periodically. The frequency of cleaning depends on the
conditions in the particular factory under consideration and varies from once or twice
a week for very dirty surroundings to every four or six weeks under the best
conditions.
2.1. Ventilation
Ventilation moves outdoor air into a building or a room, and distributes the air within
the building or room. The general purpose of ventilation in buildings is to provide
healthy air for breathing by both diluting the pollutants originating in the building and
removing the pollutants from it.
Building ventilation has three basic elements:
ventilation rate — the amount of outdoor air that is provided into the space, and the
quality of the outdoor air.
airflow direction — the overall airflow direction in a building, which should be from
clean zones to dirty zones.
air distribution or airflow pattern — the external air should be delivered to each part
of the space in an efficient manner and the airborne pollutants generated in each
part of the space should also be removed in an efficient manner.
There are three methods that may be used to ventilate a building: natural,
mechanical and hybrid (mixed-mode) ventilation.
2.1.1. What is natural ventilation?
Natural forces (e.g. winds and thermal buoyancy force due to indoor and outdoor air
density differences) drive outdoor air through purpose-built, building envelope
openings. Purpose-built openings include windows, doors, solar chimneys, wind
towers and trickle ventilators. This natural ventilation of buildings depends on
climate, building design and human behaviour.
2.1.2. What is mechanical ventilation?
Mechanical fans drive mechanical ventilation. Fans can either be installed directly in
windows or walls, or installed in air ducts for supplying air into, or exhausting air
from, a room.
The type of mechanical ventilation used depends on climate. For example, in warm
and humid climates, infiltration may need to be minimized or prevented to reduce
interstitial condensation (which occurs when warm, moist air from inside a building
penetrates a wall, roof or floor and meets a cold surface). In these cases, a positive
pressure mechanical ventilation system is often used. Conversely, in cold climates,
exfiltration needs to be prevented to reduce interstitial condensation, and negative
pressure ventilation is used. For a room with locally generated pollutants, such as a
bathroom, toilet or kitchen, the negative pressure system is often used.
2.1.3. What is hybrid or mixed-mode ventilation?
Hybrid (mixed-mode) ventilation relies on natural driving forces to provide the
desired (design) flow rate. It uses mechanical ventilation when the natural ventilation
flow rate is too low (Heiselberg &Bjørn, 2002).
When natural ventilation alone is not suitable, exhaust fans (with adequate pre-
testing and planning) can be installed to increase ventilation rates in rooms housing
patients with airborne infection. However, this simple type of hybrid (mixed-mode)
ventilation needs to be used with care. The fans should be installed where room air
can be exhausted directly to the outdoor environment through either a wall or the
roof. The size and number of exhaust fans depends on the targeted ventilation rate,
and must be measured and tested before use.
Problems associated with the use of exhaust fans include installation difficulties
(especially for large fans), noise (particularly from high-power fans), increased or
decreased temperature in the room and the requirement for non-stop electricity
supply. If the environment in the room causes thermal discomfort spot cooling or
heating systems and ceiling fans may be added.
While warm and sunny summer temperatures may be a plus if you’re heading out on
vacation or enjoying the weekend outside, high temperatures cause several
problems for those who work on factory floors. As we head into the hottest part of the
year, plant managers need to have a plan in place to reduce heat on their factory
floors.
The Importance of Reducing Heat in a Factory
High temperatures in factories can increase health risks and cause trouble with
equipment, both of which can reduce productivity and potentially harm factory
employees. For these reasons, it’s essential to implement proper factory cooling
solutions.
Avoid Health Risks
Heat presents several dangers if you work on a factory floor. Exposure to extreme
heat or spending time in areas that aren’t well ventilated can hamper the body’s
ability to maintain a healthy temperature. This leads to heat cramps, heat exhaustion
and heat stroke, which can be deadly.
When employees work in high temperatures, they need to take frequent breaks, stay
hydrated and eat healthy to stay safe. If you work in several areas that have different
temperatures, you may need to dress in layers, so that you can ensure you’re always
wearing comfortable clothing.
If conditions are cooler, they’ll also be able to work more efficiently and enjoy their
work more. People can’t get as much done when they’re overheated and need to
take frequent breaks. It’s always important, though, to prioritize worker safety over
efficiency. Taking steps to reduce heat on the factory floor reduces health risks and
make it easier for workers to protect themselves. A comfortable work environment
can increase productivity.
Prevent Equipment Failures
Heat can affect the health of employees and impact the health of your equipment.
According to the Arrhenius Equation, an electronic device can operate for 32 years
at 45° C and will last four years at 80° C. Needing to replace equipment more
frequently leads to higher operating costs and hurts a company’s bottom line.

Heat can hurt production levels by causing equipment to operate less efficiently or
break down entirely. When equipment does fail due to heat, the issue can be hard to
spot because the damage is often internal and damaged components may appear to
be functioning correctly at first glance. It’s often not until extensive testing is
completed, that the damage can be located. This leads to even more downtime and
lost productivity.
Longer Hours
When employees work longer hours and factories operate more frequently,
temperatures and the risks associated with them can rise. Today, many factories
operate around the clock — meaning equipment has less time to cool down. Over a
long workday, the heat produced by running machinery builds up and slowly raises
the heat on the factory floor.
Factory workers also sometimes work longer hours than those in other professions.
Some may choose to take on extra shifts to earn extra money through overtime pay.
While long hours come with problems of their own, when coupled with high
temperatures, the risks are even higher. Controlling plant temperatures helps to
protect workers’ safety as well as factory productivity.
Hitting Production Goals
When factories are in a time crunch to hit their production goals, they need to crank
up their operations to meet them. This can mean that both equipment and
employees are working and longer than they normally would.
All of this excess activity can cause temperatures to rise. When machines work
harder, they generate more heat, which contributes to rising temperatures on the
factory floor. If machines don’t get time to cool down, they might produce even more
heat, operate less efficiently and even break down.
Employees may also end up working harder, be less likely to take breaks and pay
less attention to their own health in an effort to hit production goals. This increases
the likelihood of heat-related health issues and makes them less productive even if
they don’t experience any adverse health effects. Because the company and its
workers are in such a hurry to hit their targets, they may pay less attention to cooling
solutions, which can hurt productivity in the long run.
Manual Methods of Reducing Heat
If the temperature becomes too high in your facility, and you need to cool it down,
you can try a manual method of reducing heat on the factory floor. In more extreme
cases, this may not be enough — its effectiveness depends on the setup of your
building. However, manual methods are a practical first technique to try.
Open Doors and Windows
The first method is the simplest, but in some cases, it may be enough to fix the
problem. Opening doors and windows as well as other openings can improve
circulation, let hot air escape and lower the temperature of the building.
Opening doors and windows to the North and South is the most effective way to get
air flow through a building. Opening higher windows works well to remove hot air,
because warmer air rises. When you give hot air a place to escape, it will naturally
rise up, leave the building and be replaced with cooler air. Some buildings even have
an opening in or near the roof that can open to let warm air escape into the
atmosphere.
Manage Air Flow
In some situations, moving air around on the factory floor can be enough to keep the
building sufficiently cool. Fans that sit on the floor, are mounted on walls or placed
elsewhere inside the facility move air from place to place, which creates a cooling
effect. While standard fans won’t actually cool air down, the breeze they create can
provide some relief to workers. So, if your main goal is the comfort of employees,
fans may suffice.
In some industries, factories cannot open windows and doors, because they can’t
allow outside air into the facility. Dust, insects and other contaminants can come in
with outside air and cause problems with equipment and processes.
Other industries need to maintain a specific temperature inside, which requires more
precise cooling solutions and prohibits leaving doors or windows open. Also, in
cases where temperatures are exceptionally high or a facility is not set up to support
manual cooling methods, plant managers may need to look elsewhere to reduce
heat to the necessary level.
Air Conditioning Units
Another popular cooling method, in residential, commercial and industrial buildings,
is air conditioning (AC). Air conditioning works well in humid climates as well,
because it dehumidifies the air as well as cools it.
Air conditioning works well for small areas, but for large areas like factory floors,
many or an extremely powerful AC unit would be needed. While AC may work for an
industrial facility, many use a larger, central cooling system and use portable air
conditioners to control heat in areas that get especially hot.
Portable AC units are frequently used as spot coolers and are placed near
equipment that gets hot as it operates or other areas where central cooling systems
aren’t enough to sufficiently reduce temperature. Some equipment, such as servers
in large data centres, require spot coolers to keep them operating reliably and to
avoid overheating. Spot coolers can be used for equipment that requires maintaining
a precise temperature at all times.
Noise that is capable of damaging hearing may cause other health effects such as
stress, fatigue, hypersensitivity to noise, elevated blood pressure and increased
heart rate.
Not only can this affect your everyday lifestyle, it will also interfere with your
performance, slow your reaction times and affect communication at work, which
could lead to injuries or incidents.
Once your precious sense of hearing is damaged or lost, it can never be regained.
By taking precautionary methods in the workplace persons conducting a business or
undertaking (PCBUs) can ensure noise is eliminated where possible and prevent
workers from gaining temporary or permanent hearing loss and damage.
The Code of Practice: Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work provides
guidance on how noise affects hearing, how to identify and assess exposure to noise
and how to control health and safety risks arising from hazardous noise.

Hearing damage or loss

Hearing damage and loss can either occur swiftly or over an extensive period of
time.
Loud sounds can cause the hair cells of the inner ear to collapse and flatten
temporarily, resulting in deafness. Depending on the noise level and length of
exposure, the hearing loss may be temporary or permanent. On occasion, the
temporary loss of hearing may even be accompanied by a ringing sensation known
as tinnitus.
If high noise exposure is repeated over many years, the hair cells in the inner ear
may also become permanently damaged, resulting in irreversible hearing loss.
There are even occasions where permanent hearing loss can occur immediately, for
example if someone is exposed to very intense or explosive sounds like a gunshot or
explosion. This type of damage is known as acoustic trauma. In some cases a very
intense sound can actually puncture the eardrum.
However, hearing loss isn’t necessarily confined to the workplace. The use of
personal music players, stereo units, loud concerts and frequent nightclubbing may
cause hearing damage to both young and older people.

Safety solutions
To minimise the risks effectively, firstly conduct a walk-through inspection of your
workplace to help determine:
sources of excessive, distracting or disruptive noise which make it difficult to hear a
normal voice within one metre of a noise source
workers likely to be exposed to excessive noise
work activities that are noisy and may pose a risk to hearing
ways of reducing noise levels.
Taking action to eliminate the noise source is important. If you are unsure about the
level of exposure or how to minimise the risk effectively, you should follow these
steps:
Within the workplace, keep noise levels below the exposure standard of 85 decibels
(dB)(A) in an 8-hour day so that critical situations can still be communicated despite
the noise.
Substitute noisy machinery with quieter models, or ‘buy quiet’ when purchasing new
or replacement equipment, which is a cost-effective way to control noise at the
source.
Introduce engineering controls to treat noise at its source or in its transmission path,
such as using sound dampeners or silencers, noise barriers/partitions/screens and
isolation.
Introduce administrative controls, such as training and education, job rotation, job
redesign or designing rosters, to reduce the number of workers exposed to noise.
Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) that is:
suitable for the nature of the work and the hazard, such as earmuffs and earplugs
comfortable to wear, and of a suitable size and fit
maintained, repaired or replaced when required
used or worn by workers who have been trained in its use and care.
If workers are frequently required to wear PPE to reduce the risk of hearing loss,
implement an audiometric testing regime and keep testing records.

Vibration
The main health effect from whole-body vibration is damage to the lower spine area;
however, damage to internal organs also may occur. Research has demonstrated
that whole-body vibration can increase heart rate, oxygen uptake and respiratory
rate, and can produce changes in blood and urine and produce an overall ill feeling,
decreased performance in workers. Motion sickness, which affects the centres for
orientation and posture and the vestibular cortex, may occur with vibration exposure.
Anti-Vibration Tools
Tools can be designed or mounted in ways that help reduce the vibration level.
Maintenance must include periodic replacement of shock absorbers. Some
pneumatic tool companies manufacture anti-vibration tools such as anti-vibration
pneumatic chipping hammers, pavement breakers and vibration-damped pneumatic
riveting guns.
Anti-Vibration Gloves
Conventional protective gloves (e.g., cotton, leather), commonly used by workers, do
not reduce the vibration that is transferred to workers' hands when they are using
vibrating tools or equipment. Anti-vibration gloves are made using a layer of
viscoelastic material. Actual measurements have shown that such gloves have
limited effectiveness. When the vibration hazard cannot be removed or controlled
adequately, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as anti-vibration gloves may
be used.
Safe Work Practices
Along with using anti-vibration tools and gloves, workers can reduce the risk of hand-
arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) by following work practices:
Use a minimum strength hand grip that still allows the safe operation of the tool or
process.
Wear sufficient clothing, including gloves, to keep warm.
Avoid continuous exposure by taking rest periods.
Rest the tool on the work piece whenever practical.
Do not use faulty tools.
Maintain tools properly. Tools that are worn, blunt or out of alignment will vibrate
more.
Consult a doctor at the first sign of vibration disease and ask about the possibility of
changing to a job with less exposure.
Employee Education
Vibrating machines and equipment often produce loud noise as well. Therefore,
training and education in controlling vibration should also address concerns about
noise control.
Whole-Body Vibration
The following precautions help to reduce whole-body vibration exposure:
Limit the time spent by workers on a vibrating surface.
Mechanically isolate the vibrating source or surface to reduce exposure.
Ensure that equipment is well maintained to avoid excessive vibration.
Install vibration damping seats.
The vibration control design is an intricate engineering problem and must be set up
by qualified professionals. Many factors specific to the individual work station govern
the choice of the vibration isolation material and the machine mounting methods.

It’s an expression that means seeing the world through the lens of fundamental
ergonomic principles. Once you know and internalize these ergonomic principles,
you’ll never want to go back.
Just imagine walking through the plant floor and instantly being able to identify risk
factors that contribute to soft tissue injuries and disorders. Seeing the world through
ergo eyes is like being able to see the potential injuries that could mar your stellar
safety record so you can proactively make workplace design improvements to
prevent that from happening.
So, here are eight fundamental ergonomic principles to help you identify ergonomic
risk factors and maintain your stellar safety record.
Maintain Neutral Posture
Neutral postures are postures where the body is aligned and balanced while either
sitting or standing, placing minimal stress on the body and keeping joints aligned.
Neutral postures minimize the stress applied to muscles, tendons, nerves and bones
and allows for maximum control and force production.
The opposite of a neutral posture is an “awkward posture.” Awkward postures move
away from the neutral posture toward the extremes in range of motion. This puts
more stress on the worker’s musculoskeletal system, is a contributing risk factor for
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs), and should be avoided.
Following are examples of Neutral vs. Awkward postures for the wrist, elbow,
shoulder and back. When you put on your “ergo eyes”, you’ll immediately begin to
notice when workers are in awkward postures and when they are maintaining a
neutral posture.

Work in the Power / Comfort Zone

This principle is very similar to maintaining a neutral posture, but is worth
expounding upon here.
The power zone for lifting is close to the body, between mid-thigh and mid-chest
height. This zone is where the arms and back can lift the most with the least amount
of effort.
This can also be called the “hand shake zone” or “comfort zone.” The principle here
is that if you can “shake hands with your work”, you are minimizing excessive reach
and maintaining a neutral posture.
Working from the power / comfort / handshake zone ensures that you are working
from proper heights and reaches, which reduces MSD risk factors and allows for
more efficient and pain-free work.
Now when you notice workers who are working with extended reaches and at
improper heights, you’ll know they are outside their comfort zone and risk factors are
present.
Reduce Excessive Force
Excessive force is one of the primary ergonomic risk factors. Many work tasks
require high force loads on the human body.
Eliminating excessive force requirements will reduce worker fatigue and the risk of
MSD (Musculoskeletal Disorders) formation in most workers. Using mechanical
assists, counter balance systems, adjustable height lift tables and workstations,
powered equipment and ergonomic tools will reduce work effort and muscle
exertions.

Reduce Excessive Motions

Repetitive motion is another one of the primary ergonomic risk factors. Many work
tasks and cycles are repetitive in nature, and are frequently controlled by hourly or
daily production targets and work processes. High task repetition, when combined
with other risks factors such high force and/or awkward postures, can contribute to
the formation of MSD. A job is considered highly repetitive if the cycle time is 30
seconds or less.
Excessive or unnecessary motions should be reduced if at all possible. In situations
where this is not possible, it is important to eliminate excessive force requirements
and awkward postures.
Other control methods to consider are Job enlargement, job rotation and
counteractive stretch breaks.
Reduce Excessive Vibration
Hand-arm vibration can cause a range of conditions collectively known as hand-arm
vibration syndrome (HAVS), as well as specific diseases such as white finger or
Raynaud’s syndrome, carpel tunnel syndrome and tendinitis. Vibration syndrome has
adverse circulatory and neural effects in the fingers. The signs and symptoms
include numbness, pain, and blanching (turning pale and ashen).
Provide Adequate Lighting
Poor lighting is a common problem in the workplace that can affect a worker’s
comfort level and performance. Too much or too little light makes work difficult – just
imagine trying to do your job without sight!
Dimly lit work areas and glare can cause eye fatigue and headaches and improperly
lit areas put workers at greater risk for all types of injuries.
Providing workers with adjustable task lighting is often a simple solution to lighting
problems. At a computer workstation, take steps to control screen glare, and make
sure that the monitor is not placed in front of a window or a bright background.
Conclusion
Workplace ergonomics doesn’t have to be as difficult or complicated as brain
surgery. The ergonomic principles included in this article are mostly common sense
– it’s the practical, day-to-day application of these principles that is challenging for
many companies.
By developing your “ergo eyes” and adhering to these fundamental ergonomic
principles, you can help your company identify risk factors that oftentimes go
unnoticed, measure that risk with an objective ergonomic evaluation and implement
control measures to reduce/remove ergonomic risk factors.

Working Hours is nothing but the hours for which the worker or employee under a
job. It can be on a daily basis, weekly basis or monthly basis. Earlier, the job
description was centered around the pay or the salary. But now since, the quality of
the work is also important for the workers, the aspect of working hours plays an
important role in deciding to opt for a job or not. In order to protect the workers from
the exploitation of the factory owners in respect of working hours, the Factories Act,
1948 states some provisions related to it.

Working Hours Provisions, Under the Factories Act, 1948

Section 51: Weekly Hours
This section lays down the maximum limit on working time for a worker in a factory
on a weekly basis. It states that no factory would ask the workers or make them work
for more than 48 hours a week.
Section 52: Weekly Holidays
This section states that no adult worker shall be required or allowed to work in a
factory on the first day of the week. But this provision applies subject to certain
conditions:
(a) Firstly, he has or will have a holiday for the whole day on one of three days
immediately before or after the relevant day.
(b) Secondly, the manager of the factory has, before the said day or the substituted
day under the clause.
Section 53: Compensatory Holidays
This section states that if in any case, the factory in under any provision cuts-off a
holiday of the worker, then the factory is under due pressure to give the same
number of holidays to the workers within the time period of two months.
Special Point
The State Government may prescribe the manner in which the holidays will be given
Section 54: Daily Hours
This section is nothing but the extension of Section 51. Keeping in view the weekly
working hours limit prescribed by Section 51, this section states the limit on a daily
basis. It states that a factory should allow a worker to work for more than 9 hours per
day.
Special Point:
The maximum limit can be increased in certain cases after the permission from the
Chief Inspector
Section 55: Rest Intervals
This section states that the maximum time for which a worker will work before the
interval time period is 5 hours. The interval needs to be of a minimum half an hour, In
certain cases, the State Government may exempt some factories from this limitation.
In reality, the limitation is not removed but extended to 6 hours only.
Section 56: Spread Over
Looking at the human limitations in working, this section states that the periods of
work of an adult worker in a factory including the intervals for rest should not spread
over more than 10.5 hours in any day.
Special Point:
The Chief has the power, in writing, to extend the time period to 12 hours a day
Section 57: Night Shifts
This section provides certain clarifications for the questions related to the night shifts.
It states that if any worker works after midnight, then the provisions of holidays of
Section 52 and Section 53 will be applicable for 24 hours after his shift ends.
Moreover, the extra hours after midnight will form part of the previous day only.
Section 59: Overtime and Extra Wages
This section rewards those workers who are trying to work for more than the
maximum time. It states that those workers who work for more than 9 hours a day or
48 hours weekly, he/she is entitled to be paid at double wage rate than the ordinary
wage rate for the extra time.
The ‘ordinary wage rate’ includes only the basic salary and the allowances. It does
not include the bonus and other perks. Moreover, the factories need to maintain
proper registers for the datils of the extra time of the workers and the payment made
to them.
Section 60: Double Employment
This section states that no worker is allowed or required to work for more than one
factory in a day. In other words, if a worker is working in a factory on a day then, he
cannot work for another factory on the same day.
Section 61: Notice of Periods of Work for Adults
This section states that the factory manager should paste a notice on the wall of the
factory about the time period of the work for the workers.
Moreover, the manager has to comply with the time limiting sections like Section 52.
In case the workers don’t have to work at the same time then, the manager should
specify the time of their work and the timing of their work.
Section 62: Register of Workers
This section states that the manager of the factory to maintain a register about the
details of the workers of the factory.
It includes names of the workers, work nature, specific formal groups of the workers,
etc. Moreover, no worker can work in the factory unless his/her name is given in the
register.

The cause of fires is often a result of human action bringing fuel and an ignition
source together (e.g., waste paper stored next to heating equipment or volatile
flammable liquids being used near open flames).
Fires require fuel, an ignition source and some mechanism to bring the fuel and
ignition source together in the presence of air or some other oxidizer. If strategies
can be developed to reduce fuel loads, eliminate ignition sources or prevent the
fuel/ignition interaction, then fire loss and human death and injury can be reduced.
In recent years, there has been increasing emphasis on fire prevention as one of the
most cost-effective measures in dealing with the fire problem. It is often easier (and
cheaper) to prevent fires starting than to control or extinguish them once they have
started.
Fire prevention inevitably means changing human behaviour. This requires fire
safety education, supported by management, using the latest training manuals,
standards and other educational materials. In many countries such strategies are
reinforced by law, requiring companies to meet legislated fire prevention objectives
as part of their occupational health and safety commitment to their workers.
 The Fire Prevention Triangle - Heat, Oxygen and Fuel
A fire needs three elements - heat, oxygen and fuel.
Without heat, oxygen and fuel a fire will not start or
spread. A key strategy to prevent fire is to remove one
or more of heat, oxygen or fuel.  The risk assessment
should include detail on all three elements to minimise
the risk of a fire starting/ spreading.

Heat
Heat can be generated by work processes and is an essential part of some
processes such as cooking. This heat must be controlled and kept away from fuel
unless carefully controlled. Heat generated as a by-product of a process must be
dealt with properly. 

 Ensure employees are aware of their responsibility to

report dangers
 Control sources of ignition
 Have chimneys inspected and cleaned regularly
 Treat independent building uses, such as an office over
a shop as separate purpose groups and therefore
compartmentalise from each other
 Ensure cooking food is always attended
 Use the Electricity Supply Board's Safety webpage
 Have regard to relevant Authority Safety Alerts, e.g.
Mobile Phone "Expert XP-Ex-1", Filling LPG Cylinders
 Use the Code of Practice For Avoiding Danger From
Underground Services
 

Smoking
 Provide no-smoking signs at appropriate locations
Ensure smoking area(s) are away from flammable materials
Arrange for cigarettes and matches to be disposed of safely and
away from other combustible rubbish

Plant and Equipment

 Plant and equipment which is not properly maintained can cause fires.
 Ensure all work equipment protects against catching fire or overheating
 Ensure proper housekeeping, such as preventing ventilation points on
machinery becoming clogged with dust or other materials - causing
overheating
 Have electrical equipment serviced regularly by a competent person to
prevent sparks and fires
 Properly clean and maintain heat producing equipment such as burners, heat
exchangers, boilers (inspected and tested yearly), ovens, stoves, and fryers.
Require storage of flammables away from this equipment.
 Use a planned maintenance programme to properly maintain plant and
equipment. Review your programme if you already have one.
 A planned maintenance programme should deal with
 frictional heat (caused by loose drive belts, bearings which are not properly
lubricated or other moving parts)
 electrical malfunction
 flammable materials used in contact with hot surfaces
 leaking valves or flanges which allow seepage of flammable liquids or gases
 static sparks (perhaps due to inadequate electrical earthing)
 
Portable Heaters
 Do not use portable heaters unnecessarily.
 They should have emergency tip-over switches, and thermostatic limiting
controls.
 Turn them off if people leave the room or are going to sleep
 Ensure they are 1M away from anything that can burn
 Do not use them to dry clothes
 Hot Work

 Identify all hot work

 Only allow hot work if no satisfactory
alternative
 Ensure relevant contractors are aware of
hot work procedures and controls 
 routine checking and supervision
 item to be worked on removed to safe area
 remove or protect combustible or flammable
materials
 prevent, suppress and control sparks
 prevent, suppress and control heat
 provision of and training on suitable fire-
fighting equipment
 provision of a separate person to fire-watch
and use fire-fighting equipment – the fire
watcher
 particular precautions for special risks, e.g.
confined space
 final check of area at least 60 minutes after
completed job and certainly prior to
premises being vacated

Electrical safety

 Check electrical equipment and remove

defective equipment
 Ensure electrical cords are in good condition
 Plug appliances and lights into separate
electrical outlets
 Avoid using extension cords. If you require an
outlet in an area where there is none, have one
installed by a qualified electrician.
 Use extension cords safety - not under carpets
or across walking areas
  Use only one device per outlet

Facility layout and design is an important component of a business's overall

operations, both in terms of maximizing the effectiveness of the production process
and meeting the needs of employees. The basic objective of layout is to ensure a
smooth flow of work, material, and information through a system. The layout and
design of that space impact greatly how the work is done—the flow of work,
materials, and information through the system. The key to good facility layout and
design is the integration of the needs of people (personnel and customers), materials
(raw, finishes, and in process), and machinery in such a way that they create a
single, well-functioning system.
FACTORS IN DETERMINING LAYOUT AND DESIGN
Ease of future expansion or change
Facilities should be designed so that they can be easily expanded or adjusted to
meet changing production needs. Flexible manufacturing systems most often are
highly automated facilities having intermediate-volume production of a variety of
products. Their goal is to minimize changeover or setup times for producing the
different products while still achieving close to assembly line (single-product)
production rates."
Flow of movement
The facility design should reflect a recognition of the importance of smooth process
flow. The flow need not be a straight line. Parallel flows, U-shaped patterns, or even
a zig-zag that ends up with the finished product back at the shipping and receiving
bays can be functional. However, backtracking is to be avoided in whatever pattern
is chosen. When parts and materials move against or across the overall flow,
personnel and paperwork become confused, parts become lost, and the attainment
of coordination becomes complicated."
Materials handling
Small business owners should make certain that the facility layout makes it possible
to handle materials (products, equipment, containers, etc.) in an orderly, efficient—
and preferably simple—manner.
Output needs
The facility should be laid out in a way that is conducive to helping the business meet
its production needs.
Space utilization
This aspect of facility design includes everything from making sure that traffic lanes
are wide enough to making certain that inventory storage warehouses or rooms
utilize as much vertical space as possible.
Safety—The facility layout should enable the business to effectively operate in
accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines and other
legal restrictions.