Construction Site Checklist for Northwest Montana: Fencing, Lighting, Power and Sanitation

A well-set-up job site in Northwest Montana covers five basics: a secure perimeter, enough light, reliable power, clean restrooms with handwashing, and a plan for winter. Get those right on day one and your crew spends less time working around the site and more time building. This checklist is written for contractors, builders and project managers working anywhere from Kalispell and Whitefish to Columbia Falls and Polson.

1. Secure the perimeter with temporary fencing

Temporary fencing keeps the public out, protects materials and equipment, and marks where trucks can and can’t go. In town, it is often part of what the permit, the general contractor or the neighbors expect.

• Walk the lot line and decide where gates go for deliveries, concrete trucks and equipment.
• Leave room for staging and a clear path for the restroom service truck.
• Plan for wind. Panels on stands need proper bases and bracing, especially on open lots.
• Check what your permit or local rules require for fencing around excavations and public walkways.

2. Plan lighting for short days and night work

From late fall through winter, the workday in the Flathead Valley runs short on daylight. Light towers let crews start early and finish late, and they help with security after hours.

• Light work areas, walkways, gates and the restroom area.
• Place towers so they don’t blind drivers on nearby roads or shine into neighbors’ windows.
• Decide who turns lights on and off, and how fuel will be checked.

3. Line up power before you need it

If permanent power is not in yet, a towable generator can run tools, a site office, heaters or a pump. Plan this early, because nothing stalls a crew faster than no power on a cold morning.

• List what needs power and when: tools, lights, a site trailer, heaters, pumps.
• Pick a level, ventilated spot away from doors, windows and air intakes.
• Run cords where they won’t be crushed or tripped over, and plan for refueling.

4. Restrooms and handwashing for the crew

OSHA’s construction sanitation standard (29 CFR 1926.51) requires toilet facilities on site, with the minimum number based on crew size. Check the current rule for your crew and plan above the minimum if you run long shifts or bring in extra trades during busy phases.

• Choose clean, stocked portable restrooms on a regular service schedule. Weekly service is common for long-term sites.
• Add an ADA-accessible unit where needed, and for public-facing projects.
• Add handwash stations so the crew can wash up with soap and water, not just sanitizer.
• Place units on level ground, close to the work but out of the way of equipment, with truck access for service.

5. Larger and remote projects

Remote work camps, long road projects and emergency response often need more than the basics. Shower trailers and laundry trailers keep crews comfortable when they are far from town for days or weeks at a time, and a restroom trailer can be a good fit for a site office or a long project with a larger crew.

Winter considerations

Winter is where Northwest Montana job sites differ most from the rest of the country. Plan for these before the first snow:

Access and snow removal

Keep a plowed path to every unit, the fence gates, light towers and generators. If our truck can’t reach the restrooms, they can’t be serviced. Tell us who plows the site so we can coordinate.

Cold-weather restrooms

Cold weather affects portable restrooms and handwash stations. Ask us how we handle cold-weather servicing on your site, and keep units where they get some sun and shelter from the wind when possible.

Ice, wind and drifting snow

Fence panels catch wind and snow. Check bases and bracing after storms, and keep gates clear of drifts. Make sure walkways to restrooms and the site office are sanded or cleared.

Short days

Light towers earn their keep in December and January. Plan their placement before the ground freezes and the snow piles up.

The quick checklist

1. Temporary fencing with gates where deliveries and equipment need them.
2. Light towers for work areas, walkways and security.
3. Generator power for tools, the site office, heat and pumps.
4. Portable restrooms on a regular service schedule, plus an ADA unit where needed.
5. Handwash stations near restrooms and break areas.
6. A winter plan: plowed access, cold-weather servicing and storm checks.

Big Sky Site Services can put all of this on one quote, delivered from our base at 5600 Highway 93 S in Whitefish. Job site restrooms start at $195 a month with weekly service, and handwash stations at $185 a month. Fencing, light towers and generators are priced by quote, so call for pricing.