Construction companies have a lot of expensive materials and machinery that they need to store. They not only have to make sure that everything is safe and secure but that it's also easy for their workers to access. In this article, we'll discuss some of the best ways to choose storage methods in a construction setting.
What Needs to Be Stored?
The answer to this question will be different from one project to the next, and it should influence your choice of storage methods.
Materials
- Some common materials that construction firms need to store include:
- Scaffolding equipment – including ladders, platforms, and braces
- Safety railings – for use on exposed edges or floors during building work
- Electrical cables – used for power tools and extension cords throughout a site
- Building supplies such as cement bags, sandbags, wooden boards, and plasterboard sheets
Machinery
In addition, there are some pieces of machinery that construction firms need to store on their sites. This might include:
- Power tools – drills, saws, etc.
- Lifting equipment – such as cranes, forklifts, and scissor lifts
- Vehicles – including vans, trucks, and cars used for transporting workers or materials around a site
- Construction equipment – including diggers, bulldozers, and earthmovers
By Going Online
Blogs and specialist articles related to the construction industry can provide contractors with a wealth of information on storing equipment and materials properly. These websites talk about the different types of storage facilities, such as warehouses and rentable shipping containers.
This professional advice can be indispensable, especially when it follows the entire process from start to finish. It's a fact that a warehouse requires staging space, so people want to know how much this would be and how to plan for it. They also want to know about things like warehouse offices and mobile warehouse layouts.
By Thinking About Security
These things are crucial for giving site managers peace of mind. Knowing your items are safe will ensure that they won’t be stolen or vandalized (which can cost you a lot of money).
You might store power tools in a secure cabinet so that they can’t be stolen by visitors. Even if you can't get your vehicles stored away, it's possible to invest in immobilizing equipment to ensure no one can drive them away. Security systems are very important, whether it's locks, CCTV, security guards or guard dogs.
By Thinking About Safety
If any personal injury occurs due to faulty storage facilities it could result in litigation, a damaged reputation and a loss of business (or even closure).
Even items that are relatively light in weight can cause problems if they’re stored incorrectly. For example, you might end up with too many heavy objects stacked on top of each other. This could lead to an accident when workers need to access them.
By Thinking About Climate
It's important to make sure that your construction equipment doesn't overheat during extreme temperatures at certain times of the year.
Many items of machinery need to be kept indoors because they can be damaged by things like rain or snowfall. This includes some vehicles and construction equipment (e.g. scissor lifts which have vulnerable electrical components on them).
By Understanding the Benefits
If you have an on-site warehouse, construction workers don't have to waste time traveling back and forth between the site and off-site storage locations. They can simply walk to the warehouse when they need something and get on with the job. This decreased travel time also means that there is less opportunity for accidents to happen.
On-site storage also means less congestion on the nearby roads because vehicles aren't constantly coming and going with goods.
By Considering Waste Management and Dangerous Materials
When it comes to waste management on a construction site, dumpsters are key. There are a variety of different sizes available, and they can ensure that waste is quickly stored in the right place before removal. For larger items that won't fit in the dumpster, consider hiring a dump truck instead. Some materials used in construction can be harmful if not handled and stored properly. Make sure you have a designated area for storing all paints, solvents, pesticides, and other toxic materials. This area should be well-ventilated and away from any sources of ignition.
These have been some key considerations that need to guide the decision-making process. When they are all taken into account, they can ensure that both the health of the workers and the protection of the equipment are maintained at all times. In turn, you can focus on the project at hand and the profit that will result.
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