Winter Dumpster Rental: Tips for Keeping Your Crew Safe

Your construction company works year-round, even in the bitter cold of winter. Small Haul Containers, too, delivers our commercial dumpster rentals all season long, because we know that crews like yours are ready to tackle projects, regardless of the weather.

Renting a dumpster for construction projects is a no-brainer – just like winter work safety should never go by the wayside when completing home renovation projects around the South Kansas City and Overland Park areas. Follow these tips to keep your crew safe around your rented dumpster and while on the job.

It’s tempting to walk outside to complete exterior work without the right protective clothing, especially when you can make quick work of it and rush back inside before you feel like you’re too chilled.

Frostbite is actually a type of skin burn that occurs when the skin and tissues beneath it begin to freeze. The colder it gets the faster you can suffer from frostbite. At freezing temperatures, you can expect frostbite to begin within 30 minutes if your skin is exposed. As you load up your construction site dumpster rental, your crew should wear gloves, a coat, and a hat, at the very least.

Remember, too, that dumpsters are made of metal. Touching a freezing dumpster isn’t a comfortable experience – and no one wants to end up like the kid in A Christmas Story who gets frozen to the metal light pole. Yes, it can happen to exposed, sweaty skin, too!

If it’s snowing as you work, or if it has snowed recently, take safety into your own hands by shoveling the walking path to your dumpster and applying ice melt or salt to prevent slipping. When carrying heavy, bulky items, you may find that you’re off-balance to begin with; add a patch of ice to the mix, and you risk falls and injuries.

Your crew also should wear appropriate footwear for the weather. No doubt you already have requirements for the types of shoes they should wear at work. But you might modify your dress code for winter to include boots with adequate traction, or purchase a few pairs of snow cleats or ice grippers that can be stretched over the soles of their boots for added traction while working outdoors.

Use a tarp or similar material to cover the dumpster if you’re expecting rain, snow, hail, or sleet. This will help you avoid adding extra weight to the dumpster and leave square yardage open for the materials you need to discard. All of the dumpsters from Small Haul Containers take up no more than a single parking space, so it is easy to have a tarp on hand large enough to do this job.

Covering the dumpster when you leave the job site for the day can also help deter other people in the neighborhood from sneaking items they’d like to throw away into the dumpster your client is paying for, regardless of the weather.

Dressing in layers at the jobsite also can help keep your team warm as they finish up demolition and haul debris to the dumpster. They can remove layers if they get too warm while working inside, but are then prepared to head back outdoors if necessary.

There are three layers your crew should wear:

• Base layer. The base layer, such as thermal underwear or long johns, keeps fabric close to the skin. This keeps your body heat in and wicks away moisture, like sweat. Choose fabric specifically designed for moisture wicking. Sweat against your skin is a recipe for feeling cold quickly.
• Middle layer. The middle layer serves as insulation. The best insulating layers are heavy flannels, fleece jackets, or light down jackets. This layer keeps your body heat in, without adding a lot of bulk.
• Outer layer. The outer layer is sometimes called the shell layer. This is the layer that protects you from the elements when working outside.

Remember, if your crew members get too warm, they can shed layers, like when they’re working indoors, but it’s impossible to add a layer you didn’t bring with you if you get too cold outdoors.

Local business Small Haul Containers was founded by a hardworking family in Stilwell, Kansas. They know the importance of getting a job done right, and wanted to help individuals and construction companies in the Johnson County, Kansas, and southern Jackson County, Missouri areas by providing high-quality commercial dumpster rentals at reasonable prices.

Working with Small Haul KC gets you a jobsite partner you can trust. Make your dumpster reservations online today for all your upcoming winter projects.

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