Construction waste is not only a constant element of a job site, it is also an efficiency and safety issue.  

In addition to simply being in the way and creating more work for your crew, construction waste can be hazardous. 

Common Causes of Accidents on Construction Sites

According to OSHA 2018 statistics, out of 4,779 worker fatalities in private industry, 1,008 or 21.1 percent, were in construction. That means that one in five worker deaths last year were in construction.

And what has continued to be the leading causes of private sector worker deaths (excluding highway collisions) in the construction industry are falls, being struck by object, electrocution, and caught-in/between.

Commonly known as the "Fatal Four,"  these accidents were responsible for more than 58 percent of the construction worker deaths in 2018,  according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

In other words, by eliminating these "Fatal Four"  causes of construction site accidents, GCs could  save almost 600 workers' lives in the U.S. each year.

Here is a breakdown of these sobering statistics:

• Falls - 39.2 percent 
• Struck by Object - 8.2 percent  
• Electrocutions - 7.3 percent
• Caught-in/between - 5.1 percent

This last category describes accidents where construction workers were caught-in or compressed by equipment or objects, and struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structure, equipment, or material.

[Graphic courtesy of BigRentz]

One of the leading factors in many of the job site accidents that occur is excessive construction debris and waste that hasn't been properly cleared. Safety is, or should be, a major priority on any job site, even before budgets and schedules. 

And committing to regular construction waste removal is a large factor in helping to make job sites safe. 

Factoring In the Costs of Construction Accidents

Managing costs is a major aspect of a GCs job. But factoring in the costs of injuries from job site accidents is hard to calculate. Here are a few statistics from an article that can shed some light on that:

• One fatal injury costs an average of $991,027 in hospital costs.
• The construction industry sees a 71 percent higher spend on workers’ compensation than all goods-producing industries combined. That’s more than twice the mean cost for the average employer in all other industries.
• 5 percent of overall workers’ compensation costs are spent on workers who were injured at a construction site.
• Work-related injuries have caused companies to lose 104,000,000 production days.
• Indirect costs for injuries in the construction industry can be as much as 17 times more than direct costs.

Job Site Trips and Falls Can Be Avoided

Good contractors are always looking for ways to reduce overhead and lower their labor and material costs. A challenge, though, is in finding effective ways of speeding up the construction process without sacrificing safety. And it is an ongoing challenge since any laborer that gets hurt or injured costs a contractor not only time, but money.

In addition, good contractors work hard at being proactive with best practices for safety management. This includes ensuring that the construction site is kept as safe as possible.

A major factor  for a safe condition is a site that is being kept as clean as possible. While it may seem a minor thing to slip and fall from a few feet, or to simply trip over some loose debris, keep in mind that it is these very types of accidents that account for the majority of fall injuries and deaths.

With a clean site they don't have to happen.

Outsource Your Construction Debris Removal

Your crew doesn't need to take time away from the building project to clean and remove debris. The better solution is to outsource the site clean up to an outside firm.

In addition, outsourcing this task allows you to keep your crew working on the production side of your project.

Keep in mind that every hour your crew spends picking up debris, cleaning the site, and hauling waste material, is an hour NOT spent generating revenue on a project.

And you can include any costs for hazardous material disposal and, possibly, even required training for your employees. Considering all these cost possibilities, you may find that the benefits of outsourcing these tasks become more attractive.

Choosing the Right Firm is Essential

Once you have made the decision to outsource your job site clean ups, you need to determine which firm is the right one for the job. And while you might find plenty of guys with trucks willing to do a “cheap” job, going that route will end up being anything but cheap.

Junk King provides an efficient, safe and eco-friendly construction waste disposal services so you don’t need to worry about the pick up or disposal of the debris after your project is complete. Whether you need our services several times during a construction project or just once after it is complete, our hauling professionals will ensure that the construction debris is out of your way so that you can get on with the job.

Our team specializes in construction waste removal. We can be at your site in mere minutes, so call us today! Our crew is fully insured and well-trained, so you can trust them to get rid of your debris and waste in a professional and courteous fashion.

One of the best things about hiring Junk King is that we recycle a much of the material we pick-up. This is proof of our commitment to being an eco-friendly removal service. If you have questions about what we do or what we believe, give us a call at 1-888-888-JUNK .