Keeping a construction site clean and tidy is not at the top of everyone’s agenda – we get it.
Construction sites are messy and may seem like impossible places to clean and keep on top of; however, following a set of housekeeping rules can reduce the risk of accidents and injuries on site.
For example, by tidying away rubbish and tools and storing materials in properly designated areas, you can dramatically reduce the number of tripping hazards, as well as increase safety as you create open and accessible walkways and escape routes.
And, how many times have we heard the phrase “a tidy workplace is a more productive workplace” (or is this just the team at Clear Choice?)
Ultimately, construction sites and building firms need to run a secure and health and safety compliant site, where workers spend less time looking for things amongst the mess, with a cleaning regime that works for you.
Don’t forget to visit our post-construction cleaning page for further tips and advice.
Housekeeping on construction sites
Identify your rubbish, and then have somewhere to put it.
Remove all debris and appropriately dispose of scrap, waste, and surplus material.
Clearing away all rubbish and debris is vital to keep areas safe; however, you must have a designated area for waste to go, and this must be used. You could opt for a skip or a disposal bin depending on the volume of rubbish you have, and ideally, this should be separated into reuse, recycle, and landfill. If removing rubbish from heights, use chutes that have been carefully constructed and lead directly into skips / disposal bins.
Tidy as you go.
Part of construction housekeeping involves regularly tidying up and removing the rubbish at regular intervals throughout the day. This helps to avoid a build-up of mess from occurring, and it means there is less mess to clear away at the end of the day.
Store materials properly.
All materials and building equipment should be cleared away from all doors and walkways, ensuring these areas are kept clear at all times. Ideally, you should store materials within easy reach of where they are required to reduce time spent moving items from one place to another. It’s also important to remember to secure loose or light material appropriately and to store flammable materials in a secure location away from other materials (keep all storage areas well ventilated at all times).
Keep all access routes and emergency exits clear.
This should go without saying. In an emergency situation, the very last thing you want to feel is trapped because building materials and rubbish block your safe route out. So always clear everything away and avoid tripping hazards at all times. Remember, everyone is responsible for keeping themselves and others safe on site.
Put tools away
Especially when you no longer need them. Putting tools away properly helps to avoid them from getting lost, broken, or indeed causing an accident.
Lead by example.
If you see an untidy area, carry out a quick spot of site housekeeping, ensuring that all spaces are tidy and safe working environments. As a rule, we recommend keeping materials at least 2 metres from openings, roof edges, excavations, etc.
If it’s broken, fix it!
Everything on construction sites must be in good working order to avoid tools and machinery causing accidents and injury. So, if something isn’t working, or you spot something that isn’t quite right, make sure to report it for repair asap.
Route cables correctly
Avoid tripping over cables and wires by routing these correctly throughout the site; this is a big part of housekeeping in construction safety, removing exposed cables and wires from walkways and access routes.
Stay up to date
Everyone on site should be aware and fully informed of best practice rules and procedures around construction cleaning. Regularly communicating these will help keep your site clean, tidy, and safe for everyone.
Include appropriate signage.
Make sure you have appropriate and correct signage around your site. For example, signage might include no-smoking areas where no open flames are permitted, where flammable materials are stored, etc.
Construction site Housekeeping
Construction cleaning not only helps reduce the risk of accident and injury but also helps businesses avoid OSHA penalties.
Creating a safer work environment can be achieved when you have the right post-construction cleaning methods in place.
To find out more about post-construction cleaning and some of our top tips for cleaning after renovation work, check out our latest blog post HERE.
Everyone has a responsibility and a role to play in keeping their work area and space clear and tidy, and working in construction is no exception.
See how the Clear Choice team can help you with your cleans; call our team today on 01132 711 432 or email info@clearchoiceuk.com.
