Housekeeping and safety culture – lessons from temperature checks

Two years ago, Safety Services introduced Safety Temperature Checks to get a snapshot of how safety feels across our departments and buildings. These informal checks help us spot what’s working well and where things could be better.

The results were pretty clear. While there was lots of good practice to highlight, housekeeping came out as the most common issue.

Two years on, and after many more checks across UCL, the picture hasn’t really changed. Housekeeping is still right at the top of the list.

What do we mean by housekeeping?

Housekeeping isn’t just about things looking tidy. It’s about keeping workspaces clean, organised and well managed, disposing of waste properly, and dealing with potential hazards before they cause someone a problem.

During Safety Temperature Checks, the housekeeping issues we most often come across include:

• Cluttered or poorly organised work areas.
• Inadequate disposal of waste, including hazardous waste, cardboard, packaging and redundant equipment.
• Spills that are not cleaned up promptly.
• Poor storage of materials, equipment or furniture, including items stored at height.

Good housekeeping needs a bit of active day‑to‑day attention. That includes making sure hazardous waste is stored and disposed of correctly, in line with local procedures, and not allowed to build up in work areas.

What we are asking departments to do

Improving housekeeping doesn’t need complicated solutions – it’s about doing the basics consistently. We’re asking departments to focus on the following:

• Keep walkways clear: Walkways, corridors, stairwells and access routes must be kept free from obstacles and clutter at all times. These areas should never be used for storage, even temporarily.
• Use designated storage areas: Materials, equipment, furniture and hazardous waste must be stored in appropriate, designated locations. 
• Respond promptly to spills: Spills should be dealt with as soon as they’re spotted to reduce the risk of slips and falls, using warning signs where needed. Spills involving hazardous materials must be managed in line with local procedures.
• Encourage hazard reporting: Staff and students should be reminded that good housekeeping is a safety issue. Everyone should be encouraged to report hazards such as spills, unsafe storage or broken equipment through local reporting routes so they can be dealt with quickly.

Addressing housekeeping issues doesn’t just improve how areas score during Temperature Checks – more importantly, it reduces everyday risks for everyone using our buildings.

Report housekeeping issues, spills, blocked walkways or hazardous waste concerns via MyCampus

A shared responsibility

The fact that housekeeping has stayed top of the list for two years isn’t a criticism – it’s a useful reminder. It highlights that safety fundamentals need regular attention, and even simple controls can slip if no one feels responsible for them.

Housekeeping is one of the most visible and practical ways we can reduce risk, protect our fire safety arrangements and look after each other.#

As we continue to take the temperature of safety across UCL, improving housekeeping standards remains one of the easiest – and most impactful – actions we can all take.

Further information

• Hazardous waste management – Guidance on identifying, storing, managing and disposing of hazardous waste.
• Preventing slips, trips and falls at UCL – Practical advice on housekeeping, spill response and keeping walkways clear.
• Fire safety at UCL – Information on fire safety responsibilities, escape routes, evacuation procedures and training.
• Taking the temperature: introducing safety temperature checks – Background on Safety Temperature Checks and how they are used to identify safety culture issues, including housekeeping.

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