Should your company invest in facility cleaning?

Industrial facilities have dust buildup over time, but is it bad enough to consider investing in cleaning? Elements to consider when contemplating this investment are safety, equipment productivity, and health and appearance. These concerns are addressed below with tips to help ensure a clean facility.

Safety

Safety railings are usually painted bright yellow. Overhead pipes have unique color codes. Why? Proper identification of potential safety hazards is critical to ensure the safety of employees, especially for new hires that might not be fully aware of the surrounding hazards. Keeping these areas clean and visible can help ensure employees are aware of potential hazards. Machinery controls should also be kept clean as even the best operators may make mistakes if they cannot properly identify controls, especially emergency stop buttons. Removing dust particles from the atmosphere also increases visibility throughout the plant, which can lead to a reduction in workplace injuries.

Dust explosions are another potential hazard. Per OSHA, there are three elements of a potential dust explosion, otherwise known as the “fire triangle”: fuel (combustible dust), an ignition source (heat), and oxygen. In an environment rich with oxygen and combustible dust, any spark could spell trouble. There have been several incidents over the years where lives have been lost due to the presence of the aforementioned fire triangle.

Equipment Productivity

When buying a piece of equipment, there is an expectation of a certain amount of usable life. Stretching out the life of any piece of equipment can allow a company to operate more profitably. For instance, if you plan on a new piece of equipment lasting twenty years, how much additional profit can be achieved if the equipment is in operation for thirty years or forty? One of the easiest ways to keep machinery operating efficiently is to keep it clean. When bogged down by dust, equipment must work harder to achieve the same output, which increases monthly utility bills. Excessive dust and debris may also cause premature failure leading to unexpected replacement costs and unplanned down time. 

Health and Appearance

Employees

Dust particles suspended in air can be inhaled by employees, potentially causing respiratory problems. Dust can also be absorbed through the skin and eyes causing irritation. For workers already suffering from preexisting conditions, breathing or absorbing potentially harmful dust can make matters worse.

In addition to immediate health benefits, a clean facility can help make employees feel that they are working for a company that cares about their wellbeing. In turn, it makes it easier for employees to respect their employer. When this is achieved, morale is boosted, absentee rates drop, and productivity increases.

Keeping a facility clean is an investment in employees, both current and prospective. As workforce demographics evolve, it will be critical for manufacturing and warehousing companies to attract top talent. While many young people view manufacturing and warehousing as dirty industries, prompting them to look for employment elsewhere, a clean environment can help change attitudes toward these industries.

Customers

When a potential customer walks into a facility they want to be assured that they are dealing with a company that not only provides products they need but also with the superior quality that they demand. A clean facility relays a certain level of professionalism and shows customers that you care, which builds trust. A dirty appearance may show that your company lacks the ability to produce quality products.

Keeping a Clean Facility

Common practices to promote a clean facility include:

• Practicing 5S – Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardize, Sustain
• Providing employees with enough time to conduct daily 5S of their workspace
• Conducting daily visual inspection and clean at regulated intervals
• Using cleaning methods and equipment that do not generate dust clouds, especially if ignition sources are present

Either in-house or external cleaning crews should use HEPA filtered vacuums to remove dust. Dust should never be blown from ceiling areas, which can aid in the creation of potentially harmful dust clouds.