AL WASEAD ALARAQIYA

PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE

HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT DIVISION

TOOLBOX TALKS

IN THIS TOOLBOX MEETING, THE FOLLOWING MATTERS WILL BE DISCUSSED

I. HOUSEKEEPING IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
II. POTENTIAL ACCIDENT AND RISKS OF POOR HOUSEKEEPING
III. SITE HOUSEKEEPING RULES

I. HOUSEKEEPING IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

- Construction industry contributes persistently to high accident rates and in worst cases, death
or fatalities.
- According to the International Department of Labor, 15% of all accidental worker deaths are
composed of slips, trips or falls accident, many of which are linked to poor workplace
housekeeping.

1. Maintaining good standards of housekeeping is an essential part of our day to day working
activities. If we keep a good, clean, and tidy working environment, we are halfway to
providing a safe working environment.
2. Good housekeeping is the responsibility of all employees at all levels. It is a continuous
process that everyone has a part to play in.
3. By maintaining good standards of housekeeping, we aim to be able to:
• Provide good ‘first Impressions’ of our workplace especially when visitors (clients, other
contractors, managers, management executive etc.) are attending site, it gives an image
of both the company and of yourselves
• Reduce the number of accidents on site caused by slips, trips, and falls.
• Avoid Delays; which are caused by accidents on site and improves production.

II. POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS AND RISKS

Failure to do proper housekeeping on a construction site, no matter the size of the project,
can cause serious injury or death to one or more construction workers on the job. Construction
housekeeping failures can cause:
1. Fall injuries (spinal cord injuries; traumatic brain injuries);
2. Struck/hit by falling objects (Concussions, Head Injuries)
3. Burns from chemical exposure, explosions, or fires.
4. Electrocution from contact with live wires or current.
5. Cutting, puncturing, or tearing the skin of hands or other parts of the body on projecting nails,
wires or steel.
6. Internal injuries or fatal illness due to exposure to dangerous materials such as silica or
asbestos; or
7. Loss of limb or amputation from failures in belts, guards, and other machinery or equipment
on site.
III. SITE HOUSEKEEPING RULES
1. Keep walkways, stairways, emergency exits and all accesses clear from any obstruction.
2. Remove debris, scraps, or waste materials from working areas and dispose in the correct
container. Designate an area for rubbish and waste.
3. Keep hoses, power cords, pipes, welding leads, etc., from laying in heavily travelled
walkways or areas. Fix or cover all permanent and temporary trip hazards, such as cables.
4. Return tools/equipment on designated area and proper storage, to prevents trip hazards and
to maintain their good condition.
5. Keep materials at least 2 m (6 ft.) away from openings, roof edges, excavations, or trenches
to prevent them from falling.
6. Remove or bend over nails protruding from lumber. Keep form or scrap lumber with
protruding nails and all other debris away from the work areas,
7. DON’T ignore spills of chemicals and oils, clean up and report to Site Supervisor/Manager
immediately.
8. Report hazards to supervisor / manager that you are unable to deal with.
9. Housekeeping should be part of a daily routine, with clean up being a continuous procedure.
10. All work sites shall be kept clean, sanitary and free from debris, trash and rubbish which
could result in potential hazards to personnel.

KEY TAKE AWAYS

} Clean workplaces are safer workplaces
} Good housekeeping is the responsibility of everyone on the construction site
} Everyone shall go home safely at the end of each day