Page 3 - HIWT Fall 2013 World of Welding

hiwt@welding.org HOBART INSTITUTE OF WELDING TECHNOLOGY

THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

By Andre A. Odermatt
President
Hobart Institute of Welding Technology

Visitors often observe and Work ethics involve the right attitude, correct behavior, respect
make positive remarks about for others, effective communication and more. Positive work
the cleanliness and good habits include good housekeeping. Good housekeeping means
housekeeping that is practiced cleanliness, keeping work areas neat and orderly, reducing
at Hobart Institute, where wasted material, being careful in using tools, machines and
we believe in teaching by equipment and more. One of the best aphorisms for good
example. Some visitors expect housekeeping is:
that welding is a somewhat A place for everything and
dirty job and that the practice
environment must be also everything in its place
somewhat dirty. They are
in for a big surprise when
visiting HIWT! Since work is Effective housekeeping is an ongoing operation, it is not a
an economic activity creating hit and miss cleanup done occasionally. Good housekeeping
value, UHVXOWV LQ EHQH¿WV IRU HPSOR\HUV DQG HPSOR\HHV ,W FUHDWHV DQ
we believe that the student must economical value by reducing cost in many areas in addition
to the immense cost of accidents and lost time.
learn the economic value of good
“A place for everything and everything in its place” is attributed
housekeeping. to Samuel Smiles, Mrs. Isabella Beeton and Benjamin Franklin.
The Oxford Book of Quotations.

Why should a welder or any worker, regardless of the
occupation, pay attention to housekeeping? First and foremost,
it keeps the welder and their surroundings safe and reduces
workplace hazards. Poor housekeeping can
contribute to accidents. According to the 2012
Liberty Mutual :RUNSODFH 6DIHW\ ,QGH[, the
most disabling workplace injuries and illnesses
in 2010 amounted to $51.1 billion in direct US Productivity
workers compensation cost. Arguably some of
this enormous expense could have been avoided
by better housekeeping.

Sometimes it is assumed that good safety
practices and housekeeping in general only
require common sense. While good common
sense is certainly helpful, it is by far not
enough to properly protect the welder and the Value Added
surrounding area. Training in welding safety is
vital but training alone cannot change unsafe
habits. It requires a positive attitude.

As Dr. Sundaram Nagarajan, Executive Vice
President ITW, said during the September 9,
2011 &KLFDJR :HOGLQJ ,QGXVWU\ 5RXQGWDEOH:
“You can teach people to weld, It’s much more
GLI¿FXOW WR WHDFK WKHP D ZRUN HWKLF ´ Good Housekeeping

3