Site housekeeping checklist (NZ)

Housekeeping is one of the most common site inspection failures and a direct cause of slips, trips, falls, and struck-by injuries. A clean site is a safer and more productive one. Use this checklist for a daily or end-of-shift walk: clear the paths, store the materials, remove the waste, and control the leads and spills.

CompanySiteDate

Site housekeeping checklist (NZ)

Company: ____________

Site: ____________

Date: ____________

Access, egress, and walkways

	Walkways, stairs, and ramps clear of material and debris	N/A · Action
	Exits and emergency routes unobstructed	N/A · Action
	Adequate lighting in walkways and work areas	N/A · Action
	Penetrations and openings covered and marked	N/A · Action
	No trailing leads or hoses across walkways	N/A · Action

Material storage

	Materials stacked stably and not blocking access or egress	N/A · Action
	Nothing stored where it could fall on someone below	N/A · Action
	Flammables and hazardous substances stored correctly and segregated, SDS available	N/A · Action
	Gas cylinders secured upright	N/A · Action
	Load limits on floors and scaffolds respected	N/A · Action

Waste and debris

	Scrap, offcuts, and packaging cleared regularly, not left to pile up	N/A · Action
	Waste bins available and not overflowing	N/A · Action
	Protruding nails bent over or removed from discarded timber	N/A · Action
	Combustible waste removed from hot-work areas	N/A · Action

Spills, leads, and tools

	Spills cleaned up promptly; absorbent available for the substances on site	N/A · Action
	Leads and hoses routed overhead or along edges, not underfoot; leads tested and tagged	N/A · Action
	Tools returned to storage when not in use, not left on walkways or at height	N/A · Action
	Standing water and mud managed	N/A · Action

End of day

	Work areas left clean and safe for the next shift	N/A · Action
	Barricades and penetration covers back in place	N/A · Action
	Plant secured	N/A · Action
	Housekeeping issues found and who will fix them: ____________	N/A · Action

Completed by: ____________________

Signature: ____________________

swmspack.com · Free printable checklist. Not legal advice; adapt to your site.

Common questions

▸Why does housekeeping matter for safety?

Poor housekeeping is a leading cause of slips, trips, and falls, and clutter hides other hazards and blocks escape routes. It is also one of the first things a main contractor or WorkSafe inspector notices, because a messy site signals a poorly managed one.

▸How often should housekeeping be checked?

A quick walk at the end of each shift keeps problems from building up, with a fuller check as part of the weekly site inspection. Assign it so it is clearly someone's responsibility.

Housekeeping is one line in a bigger safety picture. When the main contractor needs your SSSP, generate a site-specific one in minutes.

Forms record the day; the SSSP is the plan the main contractor asks for before you start. Generate a site-specific one for your trade, checked against HSWA 2015.

See a sample SSSP Build my SSSP, NZ$89

More free forms

Incident report form (NZ)

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Toolbox talk record (NZ)

Hazardous substance risk assessment (NZ)

Site safety inspection (NZ)

Incident investigation report (NZ)

PPE checklist (NZ)

All forms → · Guides · Toolbox talks