Order and cleanliness are extremely important for safety at work. Lack of organisation is often one of the reasons behind incidents and occupational accidents. Orderliness also makes work lighter, as it makes it easier to use assistive devices such as handcarts.

Cleanliness and regular cleaning are also prerequisites for healthy indoor air. In addition to workspaces, personnel rooms also need to be kept tidy and clean.

It takes relatively little to make a workspace neat and tidy. Maintaining order requires careful planning of work and activities, teaching employees the correct procedures and ensuring that the agreed procedures are followed in practice.

Workspaces must be cleaned sufficiently often

Good order in a workplace means that

• all access routes, passageways, exits and work surfaces are safe and well maintained
• all goods in the workplace are handled, transported and stored in an orderly manner, and
• all tools, equipment and waste are kept in their designated places.

Appropriate safety labelling promotes order and cleanliness. All fire extinguishers and electrical enclosures must be accessible at all times in order to ensure overall safety. In addition, all exits and access routes must be clearly marked and kept free of any obstacles.

Cleanliness also includes removing dirt, dust and rubbish from workspaces. The need for cleaning, i.e. the thoroughness and frequency of cleaning, depends on the circumstances in the workplace.

It must be possible to clean the premises without putting employees in danger. If necessary, cleaning must be carried out outside of employees’ normal working hours. Cleaners should receive thorough information on the conditions at the workplace, correct procedures and chemical safety.