As the old saying goes, a cluttered house is a cluttered mind. Spring cleaning has forever been something widely discussed, and widely executed. It isn’t fun, but it feels really good to open up the windows and do a good, deep, thorough cleaning of your living space. For similar reasons, it’s essential to prioritize spring cleaning in your warehouse as well. In the workplace the benefits to a clean warehouse go well beyond fresh air and decreasing clutter for the sake of mental clarity. Warehouse cleanliness plays a huge role in keeping businesses running, keeping workers safe, and improving the bottom line. Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the benefits to a clean warehouse.
Improve Safety
As you know, OSHA maintains strict rules and regulations companies are required by law to follow, and a big part of these rules have to do with keeping a clean and organized work environment. There is good reason for this, as a cluttered and/or dirty workplace increases the likelihood someone will trip, slip, or fall. It also increases the chances something will fall from a shelf or rack and seriously injure someone. It’s quite easy to fall into a routine and grow comfortable with workplace clutter, but that’s exactly why spring cleaning is so important. A clean, organized workplace leads to decreased health and safety hazards.
Increased Productivity
When people are unhindered by clutter, they are able to get more work done. This is certainly one of the most obvious benefits to a clean warehouse – increased efficiency. When employees know where to find things, and those things are there when they need them, they’re able to get more work done. When conveyors, lifts, and other machines and equipment is free from debris that can damage or affect its efficiency, they are able to do more work. The operators are therefore also able to do more work, and not have to stop periodically to deal with build-up. Making sure productivity machines are clean also keeps them out of the repair shop or the junkyard.
Encourages Workers to Improve Work Ethic and Effort
When management makes a clear effort to ensure the health and safety of their employees, the employees tend to notice. This inevitably builds morale. When works feel cared for, they care more about the work they’re doing. Employees who are motivated to keep their areas tidy and clutter-free helps keep the workplace clean, which decreases stress and aids in keeping workers focused and on-task. Positivity is contagious, and when the leadership invests the resources in keeping their warehouse clean, the employees are more likely to follow suit.
Increased Inventory and Improved Inventory Management
In cleaning out the proverbial closet, you’ll find things you thought were gone forever, things that belong other places, and things you no longer have use for. Then you stand back and realize what you have and what you still need. Having a messy or dirty facility not only leads to costly overstocking but it also often leads to accidentally using expired items or having to discard unused items simply because they were misplaced or hidden. Once the space is clean, however, you’ll likely have made space for more inventory. Then, maintaining an organized warehouse helps you keep better control of inventory.
There you have it. Spring is officially here, and there’s never been a better time to prioritize cleaning and de-cluttering your workplace. There are multiple benefits to a clean warehouse, your workers and your bottom line will thank you.