When good housekeeping lapses, the potential for an accident increases exponentially.

Slips, trips, and falls are a leading cause of accidents reported to Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Many of these accidents are caused by clutter, debris, and spills in walkways. Mining operations can also produce excessive dust, increasingly consisting of potentially harmful chemicals, which pose health hazards. Routine cleaning can remove the potential dangers of debris and dust.

MSHA guidelines require that mining operators do a minimum of housekeeping to keep the workplace safe. The regulations related to housekeeping (30 CFR 56/57.20003) state that the following must be done at all mining operations:

• Workplaces, passageways, storerooms, and service rooms shall be kept clean and orderly;

• The floor of every workplace shall be maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, dry condition. Where wet processes are used, drainage shall be maintained, and false floors, platforms, mats, or other dry standing places shall be provided where practicable; and

• Every floor, working place, and passageway shall be kept free from protruding nails, splinters, holes, or loose boards, as practicable.

To comply with regulations, MSHA recommends that owners, managers, and supervisors first commit to preventing accidents related to health hazards and then take action by implementing necessary policies and practices. Regular frequent inspections will help identify problems. The following conditions should be evaluated during these inspections:

• Are work areas wet, slippery, or cluttered?

• Are floors wet or oily?

• Are work areas messy and passageways cluttered?

• Are steps, stairs, ramps, or ladders slippery?

• Is harmful chemical dust accumulating in work areas?