Effective housekeeping is crucial for maintaining a safe and healthy workplace. Here's what you need to know:

General Cleanliness:

• Keep all places of employment clean to the extent that the nature of the work allows [1].
• Maintain personal service rooms and food preparation areas in a clean and sanitary condition [2].
• Clean personal service rooms at least once every day they are used [2].
• Ensure janitorial work prevents air contamination by dust or other harmful substances [2].

Floor Maintenance:

• Keep workroom floors dry as far as practicable. Where wet processes are used, provide drainage and dry standing places like false floors, platforms, or waterproof footgear [1].
• Keep floors, working places, and passageways free of protruding nails, splinters, loose boards, and unnecessary holes [1].

Waste Disposal:

• Use containers for solid or liquid waste that have tight-fitting covers, are easily cleaned, leak-proof, and designed for pressure relief if needed [2].
• Empty waste containers at least once every day they are used [3].
• Clean and disinfect food waste and garbage containers each time they are emptied, away from food preparation areas [4].

Hygiene Facilities and Practices:

• Provide adequate washing facilities with hot and cold water, soap, and sanitary hand-drying equipment 5, 20.
• Ensure employees wash hands and faces after skin contact with substances like chromium (VI) and before eating, drinking, or using the toilet [5].
• Prohibit eating, drinking, smoking, or applying cosmetics in areas where hazardous chemicals are present 8, 10, 12.

Specific Hazards:

• For lead exposure, establish a housekeeping program to maintain surfaces free of lead dust, using vacuuming as the preferred method 3, 8, 9.
• If working with inorganic arsenic, maintain surfaces free of accumulations and use appropriate cleaning methods, avoiding compressed air [6].
• In laboratories, implement strict rules against eating, drinking, and smoking, and ensure proper chemical storage and waste disposal [7].

Additional Considerations:

• Provide change rooms with separate storage for street clothes and protective clothing to prevent cross-contamination 9, 12, 14.
• Ensure lunchrooms are separate from areas where hazardous substances may contaminate food and are adequately equipped 4, 20.
• Maintain adequate ventilation in personal service rooms and food preparation areas [4].
• Regularly clean dust collection and ventilation equipment [8].

By following these guidelines, employers can create a safer, healthier, and more productive work environment.