Site housekeeping for safety

Background

Every week, approximately 50 Victorian construction workers are seriously injured enough to stop work. Nearly 23% of them are off work for more than 26 weeks—costing Industry more than $48 million a year.

Poor supervision and particularly poor housekeeping can contribute to painful injuries that, if permanent can make working in the future difficult. Poor housekeeping may cause employees to cut open a leg on an offcut, trip over building rubble or strain a knee stepping off a plank. Good site housekeeping can improve safety and prevent these types of injuries.

Site housekeeping is everyone's responsibility.

Get off to a good start

Supply appropriate bins or waste management systems and include housekeeping in all work activities, from planning to start-up and completion.

Site rules

Develop site rules that include housekeeping responsibilities and make sure everyone knows them before they begin work.

Safety plans

Make sure your safety plan considers site layout. This includes designated delivery and storage areas, waste management, walkways and vehicle parking.

Supervision is critical

There must be proper supervision once a site is established. Everyone must follow the site rules.

Principal contractors and sub-contractors should:

• Monitor the work and fix any problems.
• Ensure contractors and visitors know who the site supervisor is.
• Ensure there is appropriate supervision at the workplace.
• Ensure all workers and visitors receive a site induction.
• Ensure the site is always tidy.

Site housekeeping inspection checklist

Regularly inspect your site to ensure contractors follow the rules and are keeping the workplace tidy and organised and use the printable site housekeeping inspection checklist.