Good housekeeping helps prevent fires and protects workers from slips, trips, and falls. It also allows workers to perform their jobs safely and efficiently. You should always do your part and participate in housekeeping.

Cleaning up spills immediately, picking up loose objects, and keeping walkways and floors free of cords, debris, boxes, or any other objects that could create trip hazards are just a few examples of good housekeeping.

It is especially important that you are aware of your surroundings and potential hazards at the jobsite. Some of the hazard controls used at the jobsite to protect workers from hazards include work permits, warning signs, and barricading.

Work permits are written authorizations used to control potentially hazardous work and the environment where the work will be done. They explain the controls needed for certain types of work and who is responsible for making sure the permits are used. Lockout/tagout (LOTO) and barricading are just two examples of work permits. It is your responsibility

to know and follow the facility’s formal work permit policy. You should be familiar with site-specific instructions for when and how work permits are used. Another way to control hazards at work is by paying attention to warning signs, tags, and tape. Not only is text important on a warning sign or tag, but color is used to send a message quickly. Types of warning signs you may see around your workplace include:

Warning tags mark temporary hazards. They include a signal word and major message that

can be recognized by color.

Sign type Color MessageNotice Blue on white Informs personnel; contentSafety Green on white Gives instructions and suggestions regarding safetyCaution Black on yellow Signals potentially hazardous situations that could cause minor

to moderate injuryWarning Black on orange Indicates a hazard that could cause moderate to severe injury or

has the probability of causing death or serious injuryDanger Red on black on

whiteMarks an immediate hazard that could cause death or serious injury

Biohazard White on black on red Signals the presence of potentially infectious biohazards

Barricade tape is used to identify a temporary hazardous location:

Fire Prevention and Protection Equipment Housekeeping and Aisle Making

Radiation Hazards

Safety and First Aid

Defective Machinery

Traffic and Caution Warning

Physical Hazards

When hazard controls are not enough to prevent an emergency, companies use emergency action plans, emergency escape routes, and windsocks to keep workers safe. Emergency action plans must be in writing, kept at the workplace, and be available for workers to review.

The company must also develop emergency escape routes for different locations in the facility or on the jobsite. These maps should include exits, assembly points, and the location of emergency equipment.

Have an escape route and know where the exits are in case you have to get out immediately. Always participate in the company’s emergency drills so that you will know exactly what to do if there is an emergency.

Yellow plastic tape marked “Caution” may be used to identify

hazardous locations where caution is needed. Using yellow tape does not prevent workers from entering the area but it does warn them about a

hazardous condition.

Red plastic tape may be used to warn workers about dangerous locations. Red plastic tape means “Stop,” “Danger,” or “Do Not Enter.” Workers must not cross over or

under a red tape without the proper briefing or authorization.