Clutter is the enemy when it comes to a productive work environment. It has power over anxiety levels and the overall ability to focus, which has a negative effect on productivity.
When it comes to construction sites, though, the same can apply — especially for construction cleanup. If crew members are constantly running about to find necessary tools and supplies, they’re not going to be able to accomplish much. It also lengthens cleanup time and makes things harder for everyone.
With a well-planned system set in place, you give your team and their workspace the potential for effective jobs and effective cleanups when everything finishes. Read on for 5 tips to efficiently handle construction clean up after a big job.
1. Safety Comes First
The biggest principle to set in place is safety first. Building a solid foundation for any team sets them up for success from the get-go and helps to ensure that no accidents happen along the way.
Once you’ve established safety guidelines and a consistent system for cleaning the site, it’s important to train everyone on your team and ensure that every guideline is being followed. A great place to start is ensuring the organization of the worksite throughout the entire project.
When everything stays organized from the beginning, it’s simpler to clean everything up once the project finishes. Everything has a place so there’s no reason to worry about where it’s going to go.
This leads us to the next step — efficiency.
2. Understand Energy Efficiency
This has more to do with the energy of workers than it does with the construction site, though both ultimately benefit. When workers have everything they need immediately available to them, work becomes a lot easier throughout the day.
When crew members aren’t frustrated with all the cleanup and chaos that can come with a finished project, then there’s less of a chance for large messes to get left behind. This makes your business’s overall experience more enjoyable for everyone involved.
3. Where Do Extra Tools Go?
If you’re on a job site for multiple days in a row, chances are you might have to keep some things there. So, where are those extra tools going to go?
It’s important to establish this location before the project even begins and to also mention it in any documentation just in case things go awry. It’s also smart to establish a place for extra tools that are going to be taken from the job site every day.
This doesn’t have to apply for every single tool your team is using, but it should for those that are scarcely needed. It helps to avoid any potential mishaps, and it’s going to make cleaning up at the end of the project that much easier. Once the tool is done being used, put it away and pull it back out whenever it’s needed.
4. Establish Waste Management
Proper waste management and disposal are essential for any cleanup system. Waste can’t usually be immediately taken from the job site, so ensuring there’s a spot for it to go until its removal is important. Here are a few things to consider:
- Place trash bins all over the job site.
- Ensure that each bin is properly labelled to ensure safety and accuracy.
- Waste should never be dumped down drains or into the sewer.
For everyone’s safety, it’s important to ensure that each bin is properly sealed to avoid spills, contamination, and even the evaporation of oils and paints. With a proper waste management system, your company can ensure they’re practising sustainability in all forms.
It can also be a smart choice to include the client in this step. They’re going to know where bins are safe to be placed and where they’re not. They may also have their own protocol for waste management that you can work with throughout the construction job.
If this isn’t possible, consider working with an outside waste removal company.
5. Keep Everyone up to Date
Taking an extra five to 10 minutes each day to gather team members in one place is worth investing the time in. Here, they can figure out what they need to work on for the day, and what’s expected to be complete by the end of the day.
It’s also a great opportunity to remind them about the cleanup system you’ve put in place and to ensure that any rules and guidelines are being followed.
The biggest thing for keeping any job site clean, and for ensuring its clean up after everything is finished, is ensuring that workers understand what is expected of them from the beginning. When crew members are trained and educated from the beginning, the entire process becomes easier for them to follow.
When cleaning efficiently, clearing debris organizing materials, and ensuring that rubbish is placed in the proper receptacles becomes a priority, the entire site benefits. It ensures that safety and efficiency are placed at the top of everyone’s lists.
Not only this but if unexpected visitors (or even potential clients) turn up at the job site, they’re going to leave with a great first impression.
Remember These Tips for Efficient Construction Cleanup
When you remember and implement these tips for efficient construction cleanup, you give your team the power and knowledge they need to maintain a stress-free work environment throughout the entire job.
When small steps get taken throughout the entire construction process, it becomes easier to have everything packed up and ready to go once everything finishes.
If you’re interested in post-construction cleanup for your latest project, give us a call today.