Jobsite Housekeeping

Good housekeeping is one of the simplest ways to prevent injuries. Clutter causes slips, trips and falls, feeds fires, hides hazards, and turns into falling objects.

• Construction
• General Industry

The basics

• Keep walkways, stairs, ladders, exits and access routes clear at all times.
• Clean as you go, not just at the end of the day.
• Bend over or pull out nails in scrap lumber, or put it straight into the dumpster.
• Route cords and hoses overhead or along walls, not across walkways.
• Stack material neatly and stably, away from edges and openings.
• Wipe up spills of oil, water or mud right away, or mark them.
• Put oily rags in a covered metal container.
• Keep debris away from floor edges and openings so nothing can be kicked off.
• Return tools to their place when you’re done.

Debris and waste

• Use enclosed chutes to drop debris more than 20 feet outside a building (construction), or lower it with a hoist.
• When dropping material through a hole without a chute, barricade and post the area below.
• Keep combustible scrap away from heaters, welding and other ignition sources.
• Don’t overfill dumpsters; overflow becomes a hazard.

Last updated: October 1, 2026