What are the expectations of your maintenance hygiene and why are they so important? While there are many reasons a plant or operations area should stay clean and organized, here are some of the ones that stand out:

• Safety
• Occupational Health
• Industrial Accuracy
• Productivity

Not long ago, LubeTrak staff took a look at two very different operations centers. We were amazed at the difference in oil sample results and productivity of each operations center. First of all we will take a look at the “not so clean” operations center:

• Dirty rags and small oil spills all over the floor and component areas
• Barrels of oil with the bungs not installed and open to atmosphere
• Hand written signs in white chalk for safety signs and instructions
• Oil sample valves on the equipment with no protection caps and installed at incorrect locations
• No oil depositories for oily rags and products
• No drain pans or absorb towels
• No containment rings for oil spills

Not surprisingly… the oil sample reports from this facility came back with high ISO readings as high as 24/20, and very different contamination levels. Readings that made us notice the equipment could use some attention and the oil-sampling program needed some attention as well.

Secondly, we visited a nearby operations center that practically manufactured the same products and services. However, this operations center really caught our eye. We were amazed at how clean everything looked and how organized the working areas were:

• All oil barrels stored on racks and with bungs in each one
• Each barrel had its own fill jug for each grade of oil
• Safety signs in bright yellow and very easy to read
• Oil sample valves in the correct places for proper sample results
• In every work area, bright yellow oil disposal cans with safety lids and locks
• Drain pans at every piece of equipment
• Each piece of equipment had its own containment ring for oil spills or leaks
• Noticed a shop vacuum in maintenance clean up area for heavier spills and clean ups
• Hearing and eye protection at every entrance
• Garbage dump covers
• And more...

After receiving the oil sample reports from this facility, ISO numbers were as low as 12/8. Contamination levels were amazingly low. Equipment seems to need very little attention and condition based monitoring is a viable option for extended drains and equipment life.

It’s nice to pull on to a facility and see a sign before walking into the work area that states: “1184 days without a lost work incident”, instead of a facility that has not updated the sign since 1989. The most impressive sign in the clean operations center was 'ISO 14001 Approved'…

So remember at your place of work, whether it is a plant operations center or a computer office desk, hygiene is a must in any job to achieve productivity and safe work practices.

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