FACTS

1. Housekeeping crew members play a crucial role in maintaining cleanliness, organization, and safety on decks.
2. Housekeeping crew members need to be trained in the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), handling hazardous substances, and responding to emergency situations.
3. Housekeeping crew members on different types of vessels have different and safety considerations.
4. Effective communication and cooperation with other departments, such as engineering, deck officers, or catering, are crucial for efficient housekeeping operations.
5. Housekeeping crew members must have a keen eye for detail. They should be able to identify potential hazards, spot spills or debris, and address cleanliness issues promptly.
6. Housekeeping crew members need to balance regular cleaning tasks with additional duties during busy periods, such as port calls or heavy operational activities.
7. Working on deck exposes housekeeping crew members to varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, wind, and humidity.
8. Housekeeping crew members should take pride in their work, maintain a positive attitude, and collaborate effectively with colleagues to achieve common goals.

STATS

• Falls on Decks were more common than slips and trips. This could be due to slip events not resulting in reportable injuries. This is commonly called a near miss or close call. Based on the ABS/Lamar data set, common locations for falls that caused injury are deck (43%), engine room (13%), and stairs (7%).
• Common locations for slips that caused injury were deck (44%), stairs and ladders (13%) and engine room (11%).
• The International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics found that incidents in a shipyard were reduced 70-90% once steps were taken to improve housekeeping practices conducted at the facility.
• The U.S. Department of Labor reports that slips, trips, and falls (STFs) account for approximately 15 % of all accidental workplace deaths and are second only to motor vehicle accidents as a cause of worker fatalities. Good housekeeping practices can substantially reduce the underlying causes of STFs in shipyard employment.
• Approximately 20 % of non-fatal work injuries in shipyards each year result from slips, trips and falls.