Page 11 - OHS, September 2023

■ Post instructions. Specifific instructions should be available on items that have special needs and near storage spaces that house cleaning equipment and digitally. ThThis ensures anyone can safely handle cleaning chemicals and complete a cleaning task. Employees will likely need reminders to complete their cleaning tasks. Daily checklists and visual cues, such as tape on the floors or notices on the wall, can help. The goal is to establish cleaning and straightening as part of everyone’s day-to-day tasks. 5. Sustain: Embrace a Culture of Cleanliness Culture may start at the top, but it requires everyone. Transitioning from a short-term cleaning project to a culture of tidiness and cleanliness is often the most difficult part of the Five S system. That’s because the long-term effort is about effecting change, and change is always the trickiest thing to manage. The most successful teams are ones that find ways to make cleanliness and orderliness fun and rewarding — for example, a site manager might do a spot check of each department and buy lunch for those whose spaces are properly maintained. Keep in Mind the 6th S: $ The Five S system can lead to more efficient, productive workplaces. It can also benefit your bottom line in more ways than one. The most obvious is that a clean, tidy workspace will prevent workplace injuries and the resulting downtime and morale slump. When the Five S system helps keep you in compliance with OSHA guidelines, it can also save you from costly fifines. Beyond that, it can prevent you from reordering supplies you don’t need because you’ll be able to fifind the ones you already have. It will help make sure you use products before they expire. When you achieve the Sustain part of the Five S system, you’ll notice improvements in both efficiency and morale that create a virtuous circle of improvement throughout your organization, empowering your employees to achieve more every day. Jonathan Wells is a Risk Management Consultant at KPA. KPA provides Environment, Health & Safety (EHS), and Workforce Compliance software and services for a wide range of businesses. KPA solutions help clients identify, remedy, and prevent workplace safety and compliance problems across their entire enterprise. KPA’s software, EHS consulting services, and training content helps organizations minimize risk so they can focus on their core business. For longer than 30 years, KPA has helped more than 10,000 clients achieve regulatory compliance, protect assets, and retain talent. REFERENCE 1. www.cdc.gov/niosh/injury/fastfacts.html#1 wwUwn.toitlhesd-o9nl1ine.com SEPTEMBER 2023 | Occupational Health &6/S26a/f2e3ty6:37 P1M1