24 Aug Construction Site Hygiene

Construction Site Hygiene

Good hygiene and housekeeping practices help prevent illness, contamination, slips and falls, and other workplace hazards. Construction sites must provide employees with adequate potable drinking water, toilet facilities, and washing facilities appropriate for the work being performed.

Housekeeping

A clean and orderly jobsite is essential to maintaining safe and sanitary working conditions.

• Clean work areas regularly and remove debris as work progresses.
• Do not allow combustible, flammable, or hazardous waste to accumulate.
• Keep aisles, stairs, passageways, exits, and work areas clear of debris and obstructions.
• Stack and store materials securely so they do not create trip or struck-by hazards.
• Remove or bend over protruding nails from scrap lumber and other materials.
• Clean up spills promptly.
• Maintain walking and working surfaces in a safe condition.
• Provide required fall protection wherever employees are exposed to fall hazards.
• Dispose of trash and waste in appropriate containers.

Drinking Water

Employees must have access to an adequate supply of potable drinking water.

• Drinking water must be clean and suitable for consumption.
• Clearly identify containers used to dispense drinking water and do not use them for other purposes.
• Portable water containers must be tightly closed and equipped with a tap or other sanitary dispensing method.
• Dipping drinking water from a common container is prohibited.
• When disposable cups are provided, supply a sanitary cup dispenser and a separate container for used cups.
• Do not share common drinking cups, dippers, or similar utensils.
• Clearly identify nonpotable water outlets and containers so they are not accidentally used for drinking, washing, or cooking.
• Never connect potable and nonpotable water systems in a manner that could allow cross-contamination.

Toilet Facilities

Provide employees with sanitary and readily accessible toilet facilities.

For construction sites, OSHA generally requires:

• 20 or fewer employees – at least 1 toilet.
• 20 or more employees – at least 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers.
• 200 or more employees – at least 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 50 workers.

Where employees of both sexes are present, separate toilet facilities must be provided unless the toilet room is designed for use by only one person at a time, can be locked from the inside, and contains at least one toilet.

Toilet facilities should:

• Provide adequate privacy.
• Be maintained in a sanitary and serviceable condition.
• Be supplied with adequate toilet paper.
• Be serviced frequently enough to prevent unsanitary conditions.
• Be reasonably accessible to employees during the workday.

Washing Facilities

Appropriate washing facilities must be provided when employees perform work involving paints, coatings, herbicides, insecticides, chemicals, contaminants, or other substances that may be harmful to the skin or could be ingested.

Washing facilities should:

• Be readily accessible to affected employees.
• Provide clean water suitable for washing.
• Include soap or another appropriate cleansing agent.
• Provide individual towels, clean sections of continuous cloth toweling, or another sanitary means of drying.
• Be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

Employees should wash their hands before eating, drinking, smoking, using tobacco products, or leaving the jobsite when their work could result in contamination.

Never use solvents, gasoline, or other hazardous chemicals to clean your hands or skin.

Eating and Drinking Areas

Do not consume or store food and beverages in toilet areas or locations where they may become contaminated by hazardous substances.

When employees work with hazardous or toxic materials:

• Wash hands and face before eating or drinking.
• Remove or clean contaminated PPE as appropriate before entering designated eating areas.
• Keep food, beverages, and personal items away from chemicals and contaminated work surfaces.

Personal Hygiene

Employees can help prevent contamination from being carried from the jobsite into vehicles and homes.

• Wash exposed skin after handling hazardous or contaminated materials.
• Follow the SDS and company procedures for decontamination.
• Do not take heavily contaminated clothing home unless specifically permitted by established procedures.
• Keep contaminated PPE separate from personal clothing and belongings.
• Report inadequate sanitation facilities or unsanitary conditions to your supervisor immediately.

Remember

Good construction site hygiene requires everyone’s participation. Clean as you go, keep work areas orderly, use sanitary drinking and restroom facilities, and wash thoroughly after handling hazardous materials.

Good hygiene protects not only you and your coworkers, but also helps prevent workplace contaminants from being carried home.