Keeping the job site clean is essential for safety and your reputation as a construction company. Even though cleaning is the last thing you may want to do after a long day working on the project, it’s not negotiable. If your client shows up and sees that you’re creating an unsafe, disorganized space, they will assume you’re being just as lazy about the construction. However, there are a few simple methods to make clean-up a breeze without extending your hours at work.
Organization
Having a designated place for all materials helps you manage your inventory and avoid losing things on busy days. In addition, supplies must be easily accessible, so your workers aren’t running around searching for something and wasting time. You should also ensure that items are put back when they’re not in use instead of leaving them lying around.
Clean Throughout the Day
To reduce clean-up time at the end of the day, you should clean as you go. This way, your work isn’t piling up, and you reduce the risk of tripping over stuff on the ground. Although it will take time to build a habit, it’ll become second nature in no time. Furthermore, consider setting alarms to remind you to clean throughout the day if you have difficulty remembering.
Block Time for Clean-up at the End of the Day
Clean-up is more likely to get done if you have it scheduled at the end of the day. If your workers don’t see it on the daily to-do list, they could assume that it’s not their responsibility. Additionally, they may feel like they’re staying late to do extra work if they aren’t going into the day with the expectation to clean the work site later on.
Streamline Waste Disposal
If you make waste disposal easier, cleaning throughout the day won’t be a hassle. So, you should keep self-dumping hoppers in convenient locations throughout the job site. Then, you can quickly dispose of waste at the end of the day. First, however, make sure that you keep your debris organized to put everything into the proper dumpsters for collection and hazardous materials stored safely. You can make this easier by putting labels on your hoppers so everyone is on the same page.
Properly Handle Hazmat
You must handle hazardous materials according to local and federal regulations. Failure to do so puts everyone in danger, and you could develop a reputation for being careless. Plus, you put yourself at risk for legal issues if your client shows up and gets injured or sees that you’re non-compliant.
Waste Removal
To avoid junk buildup on the job site, you should schedule frequent waste removal. Additionally, you should dispose of waste properly. For example, don’t dump toxic chemicals and paint into sewage drains. You also shouldn’t leave hazardous materials lying around, assuming that someone else will put them away for you.
Hire Cleaning Help
When you’re tired after working hard all day, cleaning up may be the last thing you want to do. However, you can’t skip over the task. If you have sufficient funds, consider hiring a professional specializing in construction site clean-up. This could improve the quality of your service. Plus, having someone constantly keep the workspace clean can make your site safer for everyone. On the other hand, if you can’t afford to hire extra hands, consider dividing the cleaning responsibilities among the existing workers.
If Something Breaks, Fix it
Fixing something broken is a given in construction. However, when you let minor damages go till the end of the project, they build up. The client will notice your lack of attention, and you will have a bunch of last-minute repairs to handle at the end of construction. Plus, certain damages can be dangerous if left unattended. So if you accidentally break a door’s hinges moving equipment into another room, quickly fix it right away and move on.
Set Expectations Beforehand
Everyone working on the site should know the material organization and cleaning responsibilities. Otherwise, how are they supposed to know if you don’t tell them? Therefore, before starting a project, hold a briefing with everyone involved to detail where things go, when to clean up, and who needs to clean what. Additionally, let employees know if junk removal services will be coming so they can have everything adequately contained and ready to go in time.
Conclusion
Construction site clean-up doesn’t need to be a huge chore. If you keep your supplies organized, you’ll find that you can work quickly since you aren’t wasting time searching for stuff. Additionally, you can make the job easier by cleaning and fixing things immediately. That way, work isn’t piling up, and there won’t be any rushing to do it at the last minute. Plus, you’ll get the project finished by the deadline without compromising quality.
