The Clean Boot Blog

Workplace cleanliness and productivity are deeply interrelated. Why? Because a cluttered workplace signifies an unorganized person, someone who is not good at handling pressure. Whether you’re struggling to get the prominent position in the corporate world, or already enjoying the market dominance, the way your workspace looks is the true depiction of your brand.

According to Forbes, a quality workplace design can significantly reduce employee’s stress and a more productive working environment can be established as a result. Below you will find three reasons why a clean workspace is good for your business:-

1. Greater Employee Satisfaction

Let’s admit it, happy employees are more productive. One study suggests that satisfied workers are 20% more productive than dissatisfied employees.

Discontented workers always look for excuses while happy employees are always ready to do their best. Workplace satisfaction also leads to reduced employee turnover as happy workers are least willing to leave their jobs. Providing your workers with clean and hygienic working environment is one of the ways you can show how deeply you care about their health and hygiene.

How to Maintain Workplace Hygiene?

• Cleaning glass windows on regular basis to let the sunlight in;
• Routinely unloading the bins and trashcans;
• Maintain proper cleanliness in restrooms;
• Spraying air fresheners and insecticides;
• Providing your workers with clear and practical guidelines about how they can play their role as responsible individuals. The instructions should include the use of clean clothes and shoes that can impact the overall look of your workplace.

 

2. It will Improve Your Company’s Image

As the old saying goes, the first impression is the last impression. Workers are certainly not the only ones strolling around the office premises. Obviously, vendors, investors and potential clients also pay a visit too. Poor workspace hygiene can leave a very bad impression for your company. In fact, the clients won’t take you seriously if at any stage they feel you’re not capable of handling your office hygiene in the first place.

Definitely, they can’t trust your company with more complicated tasks and will happily approach someone else. Keep in mind, the way you maintain your company’s cleanliness can determine whether or not you’re able to handle other things with accuracy.

Coffee stains, messy shoes and untidy washrooms can literally ruin your company’s reputation in front of visitors. Besides paying attention to the cleaning procedures, make sure to provide your workers with safety boot covers that can prevent soil stains on the office flooring.

3. Decrease Chances of Accidents and Workplace Injuries

Keeping your workplace clean is one of the ways you can easily save your employees from any possible accidents or injuries. Slippery and dirty floors are perhaps one of the biggest reasons behind slips, trips and falls. Luckily, by implementing just a few practical strategies, you can make your workplace a safe zone for your workers.

For instance, you can spread slip-resistant mats at the sensitive spots or can also provide your employees with a pair of safety shoe covers that can help keep your office clean and spotless. Thanks to other health and hygiene products including wet-area mats, anti-fatigue mats and the dust-control mats, you can significantly reduce the risk of dangerous accidents and illnesses that can change the life of your workers.

All in all, workplace cleanliness is the one thing you can’t take granted for. Lack of focus and risks to health and protection can kill the productivity of your workers. Having an organized, maintained workspace will mitigate these issues and you can have a healthier environment with happy workers who will be more than glad to stick to your company to enhance productivity and organizational output.

Construction is believed to be the riskiest industry. According to the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), one in five workers lost their lives while working at a construction site in 2015. To effectively deal with the potential hazards present on a construction site, the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is the worker’s main defensive weapon.

What is PPE?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) refers to the safety gears that workers use to avoid numerous health and safety hazards. This equipment can include safety boots, helmets, goggles, specialized clothing, earplugs and protective harnesses. Moreover, this list also includes RPE (Respiratory Protective Equipment) to protect against respiratory illnesses arising from contaminated working environments.

Why Is It Important?

Workplace safety is crucial, and wearing PPE is vital to prevent workplace injuries. Deciding not to use protective gear can be deadly. Especially, when they have the potential to save the worker's life. Noticeably, workplace safety isn't confined to protective equipment only. It also involves instructions, training and other safety procedures that can inspire people to work carefully. The problem is, the risk remains even after using specialized safety systems. For instance,

1. Lung injuries due to polluted air
2. Head/feet injuries due to rolling/falling objects
3. Eye injuries due to chemical splashes
4. Skin problems due to corrosive materials
5. Other injuries due to extreme hot/cold working conditions
6. Protective equipment should be used to curtail all these risks.

Below you will find the 4 basic types of PPE commonly used on construction sites:-

1. Respiratory Equipment Such safety equipment is required at sites where harmful substances or chemicals are present. Various types of respirators are devised to provide protection against dust, haze, paints, insecticides and other harmful substances that could be the cause of lifelong disabilities. Respiratory equipment should be used at construction sites where air pollution is prevalent. In addition to that, they should be used in environments with insufficient ventilation.
2. Eyes/Face Protection Eyes or face protection is incredibly important for workers having direct contact with hot materials or chemicals. Some of the basic equipment types include protective goggles, glasses and face-covering shields. Moreover, labors working at the construction sites should also use eye/face protective equipment to protect themselves from dust and debris.
3. Hand/Skin Protection Did you know more than 150,000 hand injuries at construction sites are reported each year? Construction workers are specifically required to use their hands while working at the site. Similarly, occupational skin disorders are also very common among construction workers. Treating such diseases requires special medical treatments which is generally very costly. With hand/skin protective equipment such as rubber/leather gloves, heat-resistant gloves or insulated gloves, you can significantly reduce the risk associated with hand/skin injuries or infections.
4. Head/Foot Protection Head and foot injuries are certainly two of the major injuries generally happening on the construction sites. This is why hard hats and safety shoes are considered to be the two most commonly used PPE for
   construction sites. Hard hats provide protection against rolling/falling objects. You can also invest in a multi-purpose variant of such hats that comes with a face cover and earmuffs that provides safety against face/hearing injuries.In addition, safety footwear should be worn on construction sites with uneven surfaces or razor-sharp objects. As these protective shoes come with a slip-resistance feature, they provide great protection against slips, trips and falls.

Other Personal Protective Equipment

Specialized Clothing

High-visibility clothing including bright vests/tops are also essential for construction workers. Ideally, one should wear bright-colored garments at all times during the job, but it’s particularly important in dim lighting or nighttime working conditions.

Hearing Equipment

Prolonged exposure to noise may lead to various hearing disorders. It is therefore highly recommended to use earmuffs or formable plugs to avoid loud noise emanating from heavy machinery, jackhammers or other equipment.

These are just a few basic personal protective equipment types recommended for construction workers. Contingent upon the nature of your work, you may need some other safety gear to protect yourself against possible workplace injuries. Remember, it’s your company’s responsibility to provide you with the right type of protective equipment.