After reading this article you will learn about:- 1. Meaning and Necessity of Good Housekeeping 2. Procedure for Good Housekeeping 3. Advantages.
Meaning and Necessity of Good Housekeeping:
The term housekeeping has been borrowed from the maintenance of domestic properties in the home/house and is now liberally applied to the maintenance of both cleanliness and order in all kinds of business establishments, e.g., industries etc. Cleanliness is a condition wherein buildings, work and rest areas, machinery, equipment and tools are kept free from dirt, dust filth, stain etc.
Necessity of Good Housekeeping:
Good housekeeping is essential in order to:
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1. Make and maintain a clean, neat and orderly factory work area and its surroundings.
2. Make work areas look pleasant, more satisfying and motivative for a worker to work.
3. Minimize fatigue and discomfort to the workers.
4. Minimize injury and accidents.
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5. Increase the life of plant, building and the facilities it contains.
6. Avoid fire and other hazards.
7. Permit effective natural illumination and ventilation.
Procedure for Good Housekeeping:
1. Plan and project the housekeeping programme carefully and completely. Associate the employees in this venture.
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2. Divide the plant and offices into cleaning zones and assign a person to each zone. This person is responsible for the good housekeeping and orderliness of his zone.
3. Keep an eye on the performed housekeeping schedule and conduct periodic housekeeping inspections.
The following check-list may help in carrying out inspection properly:
(a) Machinery and Equipment:
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i. General cleanliness.
ii. Containers for waste materials.
iii. Machine guards on and operating.
iv. Oil, air, water, steam leakage.
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v. Portable equipment-Do they hamper personnel and material movements?
(b) Materials and Storage:
i. Piling and stacking-Can material slip easily?
ii. Materials protruding out of racks, bins, benches, machines etc.
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(c) Building:
i. Windows clean and unbroken.
ii. Painting and upkeep.
iii. Door jambs clean.
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iv. Fire extinguishers and sprinklers clear.
(d) Floors:
i. Slippery, wet or oily.
ii. Badly worn or rutted.
iii. Garbage, dirt or debris.
iv. Loose materials.
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(e) Stairways and Aisles:
i. Clear and unblocked
ii. Well lighted.
(f) Employee Facilities:
i. Drinking taps clean.
ii. Toilets and locker rooms clean.
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iii. Soap and towels available.
(g) Other Aspects:
i. Lamps and lamp reflectors clean.
ii. Bulletin boards and safety signs clean.
iii. Protective equipment and clothing clean and in good condition.
iv. Electrical motors clean.
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v. Ventilation unobstructed.
Advantages of Good Housekeeping:
1. Fewer accidents.
2. Increased life of building, machinery, tools, etc.
3. Improved employee morale.
4. Increased production.
5. Better product quality.
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6. Continuous cleaning reduces housekeeping costs because intermittent cleanup is more expensive.
7. Little or no time is lost in searching for tools etc.
8. Material handling and transportation pick up speed.
9. Inspection, maintenance and production control functions become easier.
10. Much floor space otherwise occupied by unused raw material and tools, etc. is released for production.