Electric saws whirl as Jose Barranda walks through a construction site in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He's on the lookout for anything amiss during his routine safety inspections. Shoving a soda can into a garbage bag, he says he routinely picks up after other workers, which is sometimes frustrating. Construction is a messy business by nature, but cleanliness is part of keeping workers safe, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
"One of my peeves? Subs not cleaning up after themselves," Barranda said. "They leave bottles and cups and all other varieties of garbage scattered everywhere, and when you ask them to clean up they get pissed off and think I'm being unreasonable. It drives me crazy."
Workplaces are to ensure passageways, storerooms, and any other work areas are clean, orderly, and sanitary. This is a rule per OSHA's general safety requirement for walking and working surfaces (OSHA 1910.22 and 1926.25(a)). In 2017, OSHA reported 92 violations of its housekeeping rule in the construction industry.
Some of the most common accidents that occur on a construction site include fire and crane accidents, electrocution, and slips, trips, and falls. A disorderly work environment can lead to unsafe situations, which can increase the risks of injury to workers. For example, a worker can trip on a protruding piece of lumber, slip on a messy spill, or be struck by falling debris.
"I have seen material left on top of places it didn't belong or staging areas open, unattended with various equipment," Barranda said accounting of some of the housekeeping hazards he has addressed in the past. "It can cause a problem."
Workplaces can easily tackle and maintain effective housekeeping. Focus on housekeeping tasks using a job hazard analysis. Use these practices to help prevent unnecessary injury to anyone on the construction site and improve housekeeping:
Take safety to a higher level in construction by improving housekeeping. Minimizing risks is not just a job for one person. Remind workers that everyone has a role in safety and keeping the jobsite orderly. Use incentives for cleanliness or checklists and daily huddles. It's important for everyone on the construction site to remain vigilant and communicate housekeeping best practices. "It might not be your mess, but it could be yours or someone else's injury," Barranda said.