Construction projects are roaring back to life, following the hiatus caused by Covid-19 lockdowns the previous year. But as workers return to the jobsite, common sense may have been left at home after 18 months of inaction. Bad habits can creep in, and work environments can get… messy. Keeping your jobsite tidy is crucial, and here are the reasons why.
Efficient Working
One key benefit of maintaining a clean and tidy workplace is the uptick in efficiency and work quality such a directive can achieve. By putting tools in pre-designated places immediately after their use, you are guaranteeing that the next worker can find that same tool at first glance, saving them valuable time and energy. By keeping a tidy jobsite, you’re also minimising the possibility of finished works getting hidden or buried under scrap, giving you a clearer idea of how close your project is to being finished.
Minimised Safety Hazards
In a recent report, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) discovered that 3% of workers in construction suffered a workplace injury per year, with a collective loss of 2.2 million hours labour as a result. While a majority of these incidents involved falls from height, trips, slips and falls on same level also account for a significant portion. Trip hazard reduction can be instantly realised by the removal of unnecessary materials, from raw materials to unsupervised tools. By keeping tools safely stored away in a Milwaukee tool-box, you are further guaranteeing safety from more serious injuries such as abrasions or deep cuts.
Regularly sweeping and/or vacuuming your jobsite floor can also reduce the risk of injury; airborne sawdust can wreak havoc on your eyes and airways, while microparticles of plastic and metal can have severely detrimental effects on your heart and lungs.
Less Waste
A hidden benefit of making active efforts to keep the jobsite clean, tidy and clear of debris can be found in the use of building materials, and potentially even your budget. By keeping on top of the scrap materials on site, throwing away useless offcuts and keeping significant scrap pieces stored together, you can cut down on the amount of wasted material overall; workers will have an easier job finding offcuts that work for the pieces they need, saving your valuable material that they may have cut into instead.
Tips for Maintaining a Tidy Jobsite
The single most effective way to ensure your jobsite remains well-kept and tidy for the duration of the project is training. By walking your fellow workers through the rationale behind keeping the site tidy, and implementing safety rules and codes of conduct that specifically include the packing away of tools and immediate clear-up of waste, you can instill in your team the importance of a tidy working space. Take it one step further, and invest in health and safety signage which directs workers to tidy up after themselves.
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