Builders Clean: Leave It To The Professionals

A builders clean, a.k.a construction cleaning, differs from other commercial cleaning operations. Unlike commercial cleaning, in which the objective generally is to maintain a standard of cleanliness, builders cleaning sessions focus on cleaning up a newly built area after construction is complete. In some situations, a builders clean involves maintaining a level of cleanliness on an active construction site to lessen health risks or hazards while builders are working.

Another difference between the two cleaning setups is that builders clean sessions are generally more dangerous for the cleaning staff due to the nature of the construction site and the work they are expected to do.

In many developed countries with stringent workplace safety laws, like Australia, it is generally not recommended and, in some situations, illegal for builders clean sessions to be conducted by the construction crew alone. Instead, a team of professional cleaners trained to perform construction cleaning should be hired. Due to our highly trained staff, Clean Focus is the premier Australian service to help with a builders clean.

In this article, we will highlight some potential hazards and health risks a cleaner may face on a construction site and how Clean Focus addresses these dangers. Our approach to cleaning is professional, our customer service is impeccable, and our years of experience in the cleaning industry ensure absolute success.

Builders Clean: Common Hazards

One of the reasons why a professional team should be used for construction cleaning is that when builders clean, they may run into hazards that they are not prepared to handle or trained to clean correctly. So, rather than having your construction workers handle the cleaning, which in turn puts them at risk of the hazards we will discuss here, save time and money by hiring Clean Focus to do the job effectively and efficiently.

In this section, let us look at four of the most common hazards on any building site and how they can impact the safety of your construction workers.

Dust And Airborne Particles

For many, this may seem like an insignificant hazard. Dust will always be a constant in the work that happens on construction sites. But how are these microscopic particles going to cause any damage?

When builders clean or work in particularly dusty areas, they kick up dust particles and a range of harmful airborne particles, including silica, asbestos, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), fumes from chemicals or particulate matter. These tiny, almost invisible particles can easily be inhaled while cleaning, especially if the correct protective equipment is not worn.

Prolonged exposure without protection to these dust and other airborne particles can cause severe respiratory issues, headaches, dizziness and throat irritation, to name but a few.

Chemical Exposure

Unlike dust particles that are hard to see and commonly underestimated, most construction workers are generally aware of the harmful impact chemicals can have if exposed to them without the correct protective gear. However, the risk is heightened when these dangerous chemicals are ingredients or part of other products that may seem less threatening.

When builders attempt to clean up these products without the right cleaning gear, they could run into a few issues. Here are a few examples of dangerous chemicals that are usually part of other products that you may not be aware of:

• Lead: Although nowadays lead is no longer used in paints, it was common in the past, so when builders clean and peel old paint off, they may come into contact with lead-based paints.
• Asbestos: Although the use of asbestos today is highly restricted, old buildings may still contain large amounts of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), which construction workers may come into contact with during the demolishing of older buildings; asbestos fibres can cause debilitating lung damage.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): These compounds are usually found in several products commonly utilised on the building site. This includes paint thinners, adhesives, sealants and cleaning agents. So when builders clean up the site, they may expose themselves to harmful VOCs without knowing it, which can put their health at risk. When performing a construction cleaning, professional cleaners like those at Clean Focus know what their cleaning products contain and can avoid harmful VOCs more effectively.

Falls And Injuries

Falling injuries or slipping on wet or uneven surfaces are hazards not limited to cleaning the industry. On a construction site, these are continual hazards that may cause severe injuries, from broken bones to sprains. In the worst-case scenarios slipping or falling may result in death. If builders clean hard-to-reach areas without the correct protective gear it may result in injury. With Clean Focus, you know that our cleaners are well-prepared and have all the appropriate equipment to get the job done safely.

Construction Site Health Risks

Above, we have focused on the hazards commonly found on building sites. When you or your building crew handle the cleanup alone, you may be exposed to these hazards without even knowing it. That is why it is safer to hire a professional cleaning company to help with the cleaning process.

To drive home the point, let us investigate the health risks most popularly associated with construction sites that the above-mentioned hazards can cause. When builders clean, they are much more likely to come into contact with these risks, which can and should be avoided by hiring Clean Focus to handle your construction cleaning jobs.

Respiratory Problems

Respiratory problems are one of construction sites’ most commonly reported health issues. This is because there are a variety of harmful particles and airborne pathogens found on construction sites due to the materials needed for construction.

Although it is generally required that builders clean up after construction to keep things in order, they can’t maintain the air quality. These airborne hazards are difficult to avoid and cause significant respiratory issues both in the short and long term.

• Short-term: Cleaning up a construction site without the proper protective gear, can show short-term symptoms. The earliest signs of respiratory problems are increased coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. However, for those already suffering from respiratory illnesses like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or asthma, exposure to these airborne hazards can exacerbate their conditions.
• Long-term: Prolonged exposure to these hazards may even cause COPD or asthma but can also lead to many other severe respiratory issues like silicosis, which is caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust and can be a debilitating lung disease.

Skin Irritations And Burns

Another common health risk of construction cleaning is skin irritation, rashes, and chemical burns. Construction cleaning uses powerful cleaning agents, solvents and chemicals to do the job effectively. However, these cleaning agents can easily irritate the skin on contact.

This irritation is generally caused because the chemicals remove the natural oils in the skin that keep it hydrated. Thus the skin becomes dry and damaged, which may lead to a host of issues ranging from itching and redness to dermatitis or even blistering or swelling if the builder or cleaner is allergic to specific agents.

Certain cleaning chemicals are so strong that they can lead to what is known as a chemical burn. This is generally caused by agents that have a high acid pH balance. Medical assistance should be immediately sought if the skin comes in contact with these chemicals.

Builders Clean: The Clean Focus Dream Team

So far, we have looked at both the common hazards and the associated health risks that may present on a construction site. The above information should be the biggest reason for hiring a professional cleaning company rather than letting your builders clean the area alone.

This is not to say that the team from Clean Focus won’t be subject to the same hazards as the builders. However, our Clean Focus team knows how to prepare for most construction site eventualities and is less likely to succumb to the health risks associated with the discussed hazards.

But if you need further convincing, let us look at some of the policies a professional cleaning company like Clean Focus will have to protect their cleaners on site.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The most common strategy, with the highest direct prevention rate, is using good quality personal protective equipment (PPE). Although one may argue that when builders clean, they also have access to PPE, the difference is how effectively the PPE is being used.

PPE is more effective when the user knows what hazards they are working with and uses the right gear to protect those situations. Because Clean Focus has performed on multiple sites and our cleaners understand what risks to expect, our use of PPE is incredibly efficient.

Training And Education

Another critical aspect that helps protect Clean Focus cleaners get the job done right is the training received. On many build sites, it may not be compulsory for workers to be trained in safe cleaning methods. However, with Clean Focus, this is a prerequisite for all our cleaners.

Being taught about how the hazards can affect health, properly handling and storing cleaning chemicals, properly using PPE, and even spotting potentially threatening situations help keep our cleaners safe on your construction site so you don’t have to worry about a thing.

Safe Handling And Storage Of Chemicals

Another danger when relying on untrained cleaners is how they work and store cleaning chemicals. Above, we investigated how dangerous these chemicals may be and how they can, in some situations, even leave chemical burns. To avoid this, our cleaners follow strict procedures when working with chemicals. Some of the most important principles that we use and that should be maintained are as follows:

• Read and understand the labels. This may seem like a waste of time, but knowing what is in your cleaning products can prevent unnecessary damage.
• Knowing how and using proper dilution when preparing the cleaning chemicals will prevent them from being too concentrated, which can damage the skin if it comes into contact with the products. Our Clean Focus team knows precisely when and how much to use.

Clean Focus – A Better Way To Clean Your Construction Site

In this quick read, we have investigated multiple potential hazards and health risks associated with cleaning a building site without professional assistance, either during or after construction. When builders clean, they are sometimes untrained and need to be made aware of the hazards they may face. This can lead to a variety of worksite injuries.

So, the next time you are looking for a professional team to clean your construction site and protect your building team from the hazards of cleaning, don’t hesitate to call Clean Focus.

Not only are we available 24/7, but our team of professionals cover everything from removal of general waste to paint splash cleaning, detailed window cleaning and even carpet removals. So don’t waste any time and get on the phone with us today!