There’s nothing better than arriving at a construction site that looks like it has some organization to it, everything appears to be in its place, pathways are clear, you can actually see the work taking place. More often than not, this is due to a reliable cleanup crew behind the scenes. Companies that create great cleanup crews have happier workers across the board, fewer headaches and jobs that just feel like they run the way they’re supposed to.
What I find most interesting is seeing how the best construction companies go about this. It’s not an afterthought or a bottom level position. It’s a crew that they acknowledge will keep everything running smoothly. It’s a position they’re putting thought into when it comes to finding people who’ll want to take pride in such work.
The Practical Use of Those Who Cleanup
Site cleanup is surprisingly fascinating. Those workers require situational awareness to decide what materials can go where, they operate all kinds of equipment safely and they create a working environment that avoids foot traffic accidents and keeps everything in line so that everyone else can function at their best. A good cleanup worker shows up early, is engaged the entire day, and leaves the job site cleaner than it was prior.
This poses a challenge because needs can shift dramatically from week to week when certain projects evolve. One week, you may need four workers putting in overtime during demo. The next week, you may need one worker for an hour once the trim phase is underway. There’s no way to continually hire and layoff people to meet such extremes.
Yet many innovative contractors discovered a solution that works the best to their benefit. Partnering with dedicated construction site cleanup services allows a company to cater their employee needs to exactly what every phase needs. It alleviates workforce planning stressors and allows job sites to be properly staffed without anyone scrambling.
What Distinguishes Good Cleanup Workers from Great Ones
The best cleanup workers bring along the right combination of skill set, and attitude and their presence makes everyone’s lives easier. They’re comfortable on a forklift or power washer, they possess the enough knowledge of equipment to take care of what’s required without someone telling them step by step.
Safety always differentiates someone who goes through the motions from someone who cares. An exceptional cleanup worker is always looking for hazards, has their PPE on without needing to be told, and will mention something if it’s a concern along the way. When everyone is aware, it develops a positive culture of awareness among everyone on the job site.
But what truly sets the best cleanup workers apart is their ability to think ahead. They’re not merely reacting to messes, positioning dumpsters where they will help the most, clearing high-traffic areas before someone even asks, anticipating when an area will soon become a problem and addressing it beforehand. That ability is joyous to collaborate with because it results in fewer distractions and stressors for everyone else trying to achieve their tasks.
Creating Long Lasting Relationships
Companies that have established the most reliable cleanup crews have done so through appreciation and communication. When they find workers who arrive with a great attitude, do great work, they’re kept around. That may be consistent hours when work is slower than one might expect, fair pay that shows these workers their value, or just treating them like professionals.
While it’s unrealistic for all companies, especially smaller ones or those with fluctuating project amounts, to keep their cleanup workers on payroll all year round, there are creative ways around this that work wonders for all parties involved.
Many good contractors maintain what’s basically a favorites list, workers they’ve worked with in the past who were reliable and easy enough to get along with. They call these workers first when they begin new projects. It’s mutually beneficial, the workers know they’ll be appreciated and given opportunities down the line while the company knows they’ll work well with those they already trust and appreciate having around.
Keeping Multiple Sites Up and Running
Once good people have been lined up, the challenge becomes how to effectively manage them across multiple projects. Each site has a different personality and needs, one may require extensive debris removal throughout the day while another may only need someone doing a solid sweep at 7:00 am and 3:00 pm. Moving people and equipment around take scheduling but when it’s done right, it’s seamless.
Most companies find it works best to assign certain cleanup workers to certain major projects so they can become part of the team there. Workers get to know the site well, develop rapport with other crews, and learn exactly how that particular superintendent likes things done. It’s valuable continuity that creates a comfortable workflow for all involved.
For punch list or smaller jobs, having a more fluid group of your best cleanup workers who can jump between sites is wonderful. These are usually experienced personnel who’ve been there, done that, remain in good spirits regardless of what situation they walk into, and can figure out what’s needed on their own without excessive direction. They’re worth their weight in gold.
Why Focusing on Cleanup Staffing Is Worthwhile Investment
Most construction projects set aside between 2-5% of their budgets for cleanup labor needs. That percentage shifts depending on what type of work is involved. The reality is that getting this investment back tenfold only makes sense.
A properly staffed cleanup solution means carpenters won’t have to struggle through their framing without taking a moment to clean up their space before shifting gears. It means flooring contractors will arrive at correct spaces without need for prep.
It means inspectors can wrap their reviews quickly because they see what they need to see. All those little time savings across trades add up quickly, suddenly your project isn’t struggling with an unrealistic schedule but instead is ahead of time with productive momentum.
Companies that document cleanup metrics like how fast an area gets cleared or debris exited, incident safety rates, can continuously improve over time. It’s nice to see improvements play out as they’re so satisfying for results of any project.
What Inspires Good Workers to Return
Yes, fair pay is important, but workers who come back for years because they appeal to construction companies do so because they’re appreciated and respected. Consistent schedules help a person’s life feel complete planning out one’s week without waiting by the phone is beneficial. Knowing what’s on the calendar for upcoming phases helps workers feel secured in their professionalism.
Most importantly, it’s how they’re treated day-to-day. When they’re included in safety meetings, asked for opinions and listened to respectfully when brought to questions; when someone takes time out of their day to appreciate how great the site looks today, all of that inspires loyalty regardless of raises/bonuses that pale in comparison.
Companies that have figured out cleanup staffing solutions have all done similar things. They treat these workers as valuable team members, communicate easily and often and match their team size to what projects genuinely require.
Those companies develop a competitive edge that plays out across safety records and time on projects/reputation with clients, when you get cleanup staffing right and develop a team that prides itself on doing well, and feels good about showing up each day, that helps everyone else involved run smoother. It makes construction more enjoyable for everyone who works within it.
