A Safety Message About Slips Trips & Falls, Personal Hygiene, Housekeeping, Fire Hazards (1)

“It Cleans Itself”

We’ve got riding mowers to manicure our lawns. Washing machines and driers for our clothes. Vacuum cleaners for our carpets. But when it comes to washing windows around the house, your only choice is doing it by hand. It’s one of the jobs almost everyone dreads.

But that’s all about to change because enterprising companies have created a dream come true: self-cleaning windows!

Pilkington, a British glassmaker, developed the technology, and they’ve been test-marketing it in Ireland and Australia. Consumers have been enthusiastic, as you’d expect. Japanese companies are said to be hard at work on self-cleaning windows. And in America, PPG Industries has developed its own version of the technology.

How does a self-cleaning window work? The secret is titanium oxide. When water hits ordinary window glass, it beads up and runs off. The dust particles in the water clump together, leaving streaks and spots that make the window look dirty. But self-cleaning windows have an ultra-thin layer of titanium oxide. This layer actually attracts the water, making it run off the window in a continuous sheet. Dirt and dust particles in the water don’t clump together—they simply slide off. But even without water, the windows clean themselves as the titanium oxide causes ultraviolet rays from the sun to break down organic dirt into carbon dioxide and water vapor.

Over 60 million residential windows are sold in the U.S. every year. The potential for self-cleaning windows is huge and the technology is exciting.
But what about the things at work that –unfortunately-don’t clean themselves, like the shop floor, the aisles, the stairs and walkways, the shelves and cabinets, and the storage rooms? Keeping all these areas clean and neat not only shows pride in our work and in our workplace but also plays a critical role in safety. Clutter, grease, oil or other obstructions in walkways can cause slip, trip and fall accidents. Scraps, paper, dust and improperly stored chemicals lying about can start fires. Items sloppily stacked on shelves can fall and hit those walking by.

Cleaner really is safer. As you look around your work area you’ll probably see some areas that could be neater. Yes, until there’s a self-cleaning workplace, housekeeping is up to each of us. Take responsibility to keep your work area clean and clutter-free for you safety.

Clutter Is A Sign
YOUR SAFETY’S ON THE LINE
KEEP YOUR WORK AREA CLEAN!

*Copyright 2008 Harkins Safety

HOUSEKEEPING & CLEANLINESS SAFETY BANNERS