Waste Management in MA: Keeping a Clean Work Site

A clean site is a safe site.

For many people, a dirty workplace is an annoyance, but in construction, it can be outright dangerous. A dirty work site means piles of materials scattered about, uneven footing, vermin problems, and a multitude of other issues that can put your employees at risk and put the cost of a job through the roof. Save money and more importantly your crew, and follow these waste management and safety tips.

Make It Clear The Whole Crew Needs to Pitch In

Be sure your crew understands the risks involved in not cleaning up their work site. Sure, it can be annoying and take time away, but “clean-as-you-go” beats having to visit a buddy with a broken leg or a rat bite in the hospital.

Lead by Example

There’s no better way to lead than by doing the job yourself. Keep your area clean, and clean up after yourself when working on the job.

Know The Law, and Make Sure Your Employees Know It Too

Keeping a clean work site in Massachusetts isn’t just a good idea, it’s the law. Multiple laws, ranging from labor laws to environmental protection statutes, apply in Massachusetts that dictate a workplace, especially a construction site, must be clean and free of hazards. Make it clear that not cleaning up could mean anything from lost wages from a shut-down site to lost jobs if the state decides your workplace is too dangerous.

Keep your site clean so you can keep focused on the job.

Set Aside an Area for Dumping and Waste

Pick a location, well away from where you’re working, where your crew can lug construction waste and drop it so it’s not in the way. Ideally, there will a dumpster there they can load waste into, but if the dumpster is being emptied, they’ll at least have a location to get waste off the site. Make sure it’s got good drainage.

Have Containers for Waste Handy at All Times

If you’ve got trash, you need a place to put it, so have waste receptacles available at all times and make sure they’re clearly marked. Food and other organic waste shouldn’t be tossed in the construction dumpster, but should have their own dumpsters or cans depending on your needs. Make sure that construction dumpster rental pickup is at the end of the work day and dropped off at the site before work begins if possible.

Keep an Eye On the Weather

Massachusetts weather is notoriously capable of swinging from bright, sunlit days to dreary, rainy nights. Before starting any project, check on drainage at the work site to make sure water won’t become a problem. If you’ll be seeing a transition between the seasons on the job, check to ensure the temperature or precipitation won’t cause problems with mud, snow, or other hazards Massachusetts weather can inflict. For example, get covers for your dumpsters to limit the amount of waste water that’ll have to be drained when picked up.

Regardless of the size of your work site, Graham Waste can help keep it clean. We stock dumpsters for every size job, from a small remodeling to a wholesale demolition. Call Graham and enjoy a clean work site and a safe crew.