• Mold can build up in wet
carpeting;
• Dirt and dust can cause
allergic reactions;
• Broken tiles can release
asbestos. When conducting floor maintenance, the following
should be done to insure maintenance is not creating a
personnel hazard:
• Have the appropriate
signs, such as “wet floor,” posted while maintenance is
being done;
•
Many times hazardous chemicals are
used, either as a cleaner or adhesives, in floor
maintenance;
•
Whenever hazardous chemicals are
used
proper personnel protective equipments, such as gloves,
respirators and eye protection, must be used;
•
The area where the maintenance is being
performed should be well ventiated and closed to anyone
except maintenance personnel; be very noisy. Hearing
protection should be used.
•
Many floor maintenance activities can be very noisy. Hearing
protection should be used.
Recommendations Floor coverings must be regularly
and properly maintained if the proper function and safety of
the coverings are to be preserved. This maintenance includes
everything from vacuuming the floor once a day, to
refinishing a hard wood floor once every four to five years.
Trained personnel, who
always use the proper safety equipment and procedures, must
do this maintenance. To alleviate hazard, consider the
following possible solutions:
• Keep floors clean and
dry [29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2)]. In addition to being a slip
hazard, continually wet surfaces promote the growth of mold,
fungi, and bacteria, that can cause infections;
• Provide warning signs
for wet floor areas [29 CFR 1910.145(c)(2)];
• Where wet processes are
used, maintain drainage and provide false floors, platforms,
mats, or other dry standing places where practicable, or
provide appropriate waterproof footgear [29 CFR
1910.141(a)(3)(ii)];
• Walking/Working Surfaces
Standard requires [29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1)]: Keep all places of
employment clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition;
• Keep aisles and
passageways clear and in good repair, with no obstruction
across or in aisles that could create a hazard [29 CFR
1910.22(b)(1)]. Provide floor plugs for equipment, so power
cords need not run across pathways;
• Keep exits free from
obstruction. Access to exits must remain clear of
obstructions at all times [29 CFR 1910.36(b)(4)]. Other
Recommended Good Work Practices:
• Ensure spills are
reported and cleaned up immediately;
• Use no-skid waxes and
surfaces coated with grit to create non-slip surfaces in
slippery areas such as toilet and shower areas;
• Use waterproof footgear
to decrease slip/fall hazards;
• Use only properly
maintained ladders to reach items. Do not use stools,
chairs, or boxes as substitutes for ladders;
• Relay or stretch carpets
that bulge or have become bunched to prevent tripping
hazards;
• Aisles and passageways
should be sufficiently wide for easy movement and should be
kept clear at all times. Temporary electrical cords that
cross aisles should be taped or anchored to the floor;
• Eliminate cluttered or
obstructed work areas;
• Nurses station
countertops or medication carts should be free of sharp,
square corners;
• Use prudent housekeeping
procedures such as cleaning only one side of a passageway at
a time, and provide good lighting for all halls and
stairwells, to help reduce accidents;
• Provide adequate
lighting especially during night hours. You can use
flashlights or low-level lighting when entering patient
rooms.
Instruct workers to use
the handrail on stairs, to avoid undue speed, and to
maintain an unobstructed view of the stairs ahead of them
even if that means requesting help to manage a bulky load.
• Eliminate uneven floor
surfaces;
• Promote safe work in
cramped working spaces. Avoid awkward positions, and use
equipment that makes lifts less awkward.
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