In construction, cleanliness reduces the risk of worksite injuries and the loss of expensive tools and materials. The following tips will assist you in keeping your construction site clean and safe from unsightly hazards.

How Do I Keep My Construction Site Safe and Clean?

Clear Access Points

Keep all sidewalks, pathways, and stairways leading to or from your construction site clean and free of hindrances. This aids to prevent accidents and injuries, which could lead to possible litigation if somebody gets injured by falling over debris.

Clear Trash Daily

Tidy work is necessary to keep the construction site clean and tidy. All trash should be removed daily and contained in waste disposal bins for the health and safety of those on the job site. Additionally, an end-of-day clean-up ensures that nothing in the working area has been overlooked.

Make sure that disposal bins are never too full before they are transported away from the site for permanent disposal. Clean up as you go in order to prevent the build-up of debris and cut down on time spent clearing and cleaning at the end of a project.

Remove Unused Items

Items and materials such as pipes, lumber, plywood, and other construction site materials that are not in use should be cleared away and locked securely in their respective storage places. Not only will this make the site look tidier, but good housekeeping will also make machinery and materials easier to locate when they are needed.

Eliminate Hazards

Remove protruding pipes, lumber, rebar, or other materials that could cause injury. Bend over or remove nails that are sticking out of wood, boards, or planks to keep workers and site visitors safe. Make sure there is adequate lighting at all times in all areas of the work site.

Inspect the Toilet Facilities

The upkeep of toilet facilities is vital for the health and hygiene of all workers and site visitors. Portable lavatories should be positioned behind construction barriers so that the public is unable to access them.

Utilize Shoots

An easy way to transport waste materials from high elevations is to implement shoots on your construction site. Shoots will keep waste out of the public eye and stops debris from being spread across the site.

Dust Control

Prevent dust and airborne pollutants by supplying safety ventilation masks for all the workers on your site. This is particularly important when demolishing older structures that may contain asbestos.

Clean and Return Machinery

When heavy machinery is standing idle, make sure that it’s kept clean and in a safe position. Keeping tabs on heavy machinery at all times will avoid unnecessary accidents from occurring.

Stay Secure

Be sure that security personnel, surveillance, and locks are highly visible. This will help prevent vandalism, theft, or break-ins from occurring.

Extension Cords and Airlines

Walkways must be clear of extension cords at all times. When not in use, coil or roll up and store extension cords. If possible, airlines should be elevated and out of walkways, or otherwise covered with lumber or plywood.

Appropriate Safety Warnings

Construction sites are full of hazardous surfaces and items, ranging from slippery floors and dangerous electrical work to hazardous vapors that may pose health risks when inhaled. Therefore, you need to provide a heads-up on what to anticipate at the site by using appropriate signs and posters.

Mark access points such as storerooms, passageways, and service rooms visibly, and keep them free of clutter. Doing so will assist your construction site cleaning team with planning the exercise accordingly, including applying the needed safety measures.

Separate Debris

Debris like wood, metals, combustible materials, and hazardous chemicals are all types of waste that lie around construction sites. Before cleaning a construction site, it is advisable to sort and separate the potentially harmful debris and keep it out of the way.

Adhere to state and federal recycling regulations and guidelines when separating wastes and scraps. To help, assign bins for material disposal. Sorting out debris avoids contamination with your cleaning agents.

Contain the Waste Effectively

Correct containment of waste prevents spillage and foul smells. Designate bins and waste areas for the different kinds of trash, and ensure the bins have lids on them. Keep flammable materials in metal receptacles to avoid fire hazards, and keep used oil in rust-free containers without structural defects and leaks. Lastly, mark the bins to show their contents and lock them away to avoid unauthorized use of the dumpsters.

With the above tips, you can minimize safety and health hazards on your construction site. Most importantly, always ensure you follow state and federal guidelines during construction site clean-up.

Additional Information: Construction Industry – Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

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