Keeping the workplace clean is an essential part of workplace safety. When the workplace is not maintained in a clean and orderly manner, hazards and unsafe conditions that have the potential to cause serious injury – not only to the employee but to others in the surrounding area – can develop. The workplace and nature of the work deter -mine what is required to maintain a condition that does not cause injury to employees.

Cluttered work places can present many dangers. For example, a cluttered office that is filled with paper, boxes, files, periodicals, newspapers or other items on the floor, blocking doors, and under furniture, will slow egress and could hamper or prevent occupant escape in the event of a fire or other emergency. An exit route must be at least 18 inches (45.7cm) wide for a single person or 28 inches (71.1cm) wide for multiple persons at all points, and doors must be able to open to permit exit from workspaces. Items stored on the floor covering the route of egress will create slip or trip hazards.

Excess accumulation of combustible paper and boxes can create a fire growth. Some sprinkler systems may not be designed to protect against such fire loading. The sprinkler discharge water flow might not be sufficient to handle the contents in the area, which could allow the fire to spread faster into other areas of the facility. Items stored within 18” of a sprinkler head, or items attached to sprinkler heads or pipes, as well as structural members of the building blocking sprinkler coverage, could interfere with the water flow once sprinklers are activated. Combustible items can be shielded from sprinkler coverage by being stored under desks or tables.

Electrical appliances such as computers and power strips are not designed to be covered by stacked boxes, files, newspapers and other materials.