When there are packaging materials, spilled oil, and massive dust bunnies all over your warehouse floor, it can be pretty difficult to get work done. Just imagine trying to drive a forklift through slick puddles all day, or spending hours searching for inventory hiding behind a pallet-infested corner. Not to mention there are all the easily preventable (and incredibly dangerous) slips and falls!
Creating and maintaining a neat and clean warehouse is essential not only for safety purposes, but also for optimal productivity, performance, and production. Thankfully, there are simple steps to keep your warehouse neat and clean. Warehouse supervisors and managers can use these methods to keep floors safe, organized, and sparkling.
Step One: Establish Processes
A practical and cost-effective way to keep any warehouse clean is to establish cleaning processes. These processes can be emailed out to existing team members and included in new hire training protocols. Some examples of cleaning processes include:
- Establishing that any task will not be counted as complete until any resulting mess is properly cleaned up.
- Establishing the need to clean up before the next shift arrives.
- Assigning and rotate daily, weekly, or monthly cleaning tasks.
- Having light inspections while completing daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning tasks.
- Establishing the requirement to report hazardous messes immediately.
- Establishing purchasing policies for equipment that leaves a cleaner footprint, such as non-marking forklift tires.
Step Two: Collect Trash Regularly
Perhaps a process to be established in itself, regular trash collection goes a long way in keeping a warehouse clean and orderly. Management can ensure that trash and recycling bins are emptied on a regular basis to prevent garbage and debris from piling up. Managers can also encourage employees to pick up after themselves and take initiative to clean up any debris on the ground.
Step Three: Stocking and Supplying Cleaning Materials
It’s difficult to help clean up when cleaning products aren’t available. Management can ensure that cleaning materials are consistently stocked and always available (and nearby) for immediate use. For additional safety measures and to ensure that all cleaning is done properly, management can provide cleaning-related training.
Step Four: Eliminate Unneeded Inventory
Outdated, unneeded, excess, or poorly-selling products do nothing but take up space, collect dust, and create confusion. Management can create space to check inventory and clear out the excess as often as needed. This will help keep your warehouse organized, orderly, and clean.
