6 Safety Hazards To Look Out For During Post-Construction Cleaning
Residential construction is a messy business. Every site has its share of debris, dust, byproducts and other waste that are not only unattractive but can be hazardous to safety and health. That’s why post-construction cleaning is so important — to clear out all of the mess and hazards so a home is live-in ready for its owners.
Post-Construction Cleaning Hazards
Cleaning up a construction site is dangerous, and the safety of your workers is as important as the safety of the homeowners. It’s important to understand all the potential hazards, so you and your crews can take preventative measures.
1. Stray Nails and Screws
Stray nails and screws left over from the construction process are stepping or tripping hazards that can cause damage if your cleaners are not cautious in removing them.
2. Glass Shards
Glass shards can be hard to see and cut unprotected feet or hands.
3. Power Tools and Equipment
Construction crews don’t always remove all of their tools or equipment from the site before the cleaning crew arrives, so your cleaners need to watch out for power tools, carts, ladders or lifts that might cause accidents.
4. Loose Fixtures and Debris
Loose fixtures or debris on walls or ceilings can present falling hazards.
5. Construction Dust & VOCs
Construction dust can contain, among other things:
- Sawdust
- Metal filings
- Drywall dust
- Cement dust
Some elements in construction dust are toxic, including drywall dust and silica dust from concrete. Others are allergens that affect sensitive individuals. The air in a construction site often also contains VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) released from a variety of building materials including paint. Inhaling too much of this air pollution can put workers at risk of serious health issues, including asthma, silicosis and lung cancer.
6. Harsh Cleaning Chemicals & Solvents
While many of the hazards to look out for during post-construction cleaning are products of the construction process, your cleaning crews may also be bringing potential hazards with them, such as harsh cleaning chemicals.
Construction Cleaning Safety Measures To Take
There are several safety measures that can help protect your cleaning crews.
- Ventilation: Rooms need to be aired out thoroughly. Turn on fans and open windows.
- PPE: Equip your cleaners with the proper personal protective equipment for the job. This may include safety glasses, special gloves, dust masks, foot protection and hard hats.
- Industrial-grade equipment: Be sure your crews are using equipment powerful enough to handle chunks of drywall, large shards of glass, large amounts of dust, etc.
- Cleaning materials: Choose the safest effective cleaning materials, and make sure your cleaners are instructed on their safe usage.
- Training: Offer your workers training on hazards and safety.
- Safety checklist: Having a written safety checklist for your workers can be very useful, especially in helping new workers avoid hazards and remain safe at all times.
Getting Help from Software for Residential Construction Cleaners
Once you’ve built up customer confidence in your expertise and professionalism, you can keep their confidence and loyalty by providing efficient, dependable service. SupplyPro GM is cloud-based construction software that enables you to manage residential projects from work order creation through approvals and payments, with visibility, consistency and efficiency. Feature-rich and built for mobility, this effective contractor and supplier software gives you real-time information and control in every part of your business, so you can increase productivity, profits and client satisfaction.
Need help with scheduling, keeping track of job progress or onsite checklists? Learn more about how SupplyPro GM can help you manage your Cleaning business more effectively or schedule a demo today.
