Managing a construction site comes with a whole lot of responsibilities. You have to make sure the right machinery is on site, the workers are safe and the project is running smoothly to prevent costly delays. The list of responsibilities goes on and while you may have most aspects of the construction project covered, there are areas that need more focus than others.
Performing tasks such as roof anchor point installation are essential before sending your team to work safely at heights. Keeping an eye on expenses is vital for the success of your project. And, preventing downtime is another aspect you need to consider when running a construction site.
Let’s talk about these and other things that need more attention than you realise when managing a construction site efficiently.
5 Things That Need More Attention Than You Think on a Construction Site
1. Safety
Every construction site manager knows the health and safety of their workers is a number one priority. While attention is given to this area to avoid potential risks and costly accidents, sometimes it’s not enough. Extra consideration needs to be taken when ensuring the safety of your construction workers and this includes some of the following:
- Installing the right height safety system such as roof anchor points and fall arrest gear
- Ensuring all workers and visitors on site are dressed in the correct PPE gear
- Using construction machinery that meet the safety standards of the industry
Maintaining all equipment, gear and ensuring that your workers are complying with the health and safety policies are all things you need to pay constant attention to avoid accidents. This means abiding by the safety in construction regulations at all times.
2. Budget
One area that can go horribly wrong, if your eye is taken off the ball, is the construction project budget. If equipment is being run by unskilled operators or is overworked, costly breakdowns can result. You need to give attention to workers operating heavy machinery and ensure they know what they’re doing to avoid expensive damages.
Risk management needs to be given proper attention to avoid overextending on the budget. This means paying attention to productivity rates and preventing unnecessary shortcuts that could end up being costly. Project delays mess with your budget and you need to be fully focused at all times while preventing potential pitfalls on site that could lead to spending more money.
3. Downtime
Downtime is another problem that puts pressure on your budget while delaying the completion of the project. An efficient construction site relies on machinery that works optimally all the time. This means paying more attention to regular repairs and maintenance of this equipment. If your construction fleet keeps breaking down, you’re going to be faced with costly downtime.
Avoid inefficiency and downtime on construction sites by having the following in place:
- Proper service agreements for all equipment fleets
- Regular monitoring and inspection of all construction fleets
- Proper fuel control systems to ensure there’s sufficient supply on site at all times
When downtime is eliminated or kept to a minimum, you’ll have better productivity, less unexpected expenses and a project that finishes on time.
4. Team Morale
An efficient and well-run construction site relies on having a team of happy workers! If your labour force is unhappy, don’t feel safe while working on site or face too many downtime periods, the productivity rate will drop. And, this will have a negative effect on the team morale. When workers feel good about the workplace and the tasks they’re performing you can expect:
- More enthusiasm and commitment to the work being done
- Better job satisfaction
- Improved productivity
- Enhanced engagement between the workers and management
Team morale is essential if you want your construction site to run smoothly with minimal hiccups. You can rest assured that all work will be performed diligently and efficiently if you know your workers are engaged and happy on site.
5. Upskilling Employees
One area many construction managers don’t pay enough attention to is upskilling their employees. Ongoing training and professional development is vital for maintaining team morale, machine safety and preventing mishaps because of ill-informed workers. Training employees can range from having onboarding course for new workers to sending heavy machinery operators to equipment operating workshops.
The health and safety of your employees working on construction sites can also be improved when workers are given the knowledge and capacity to perform tasks safely. In addition, it will prevent hasty decisions being made and shortcuts taken to rush through a job that could end up in a nasty accident. Knowledge is power so make sure your workers are continuously upskilled to work more efficiently.
Final Thoughts
Paying more attention to certain things such as safety, budget, downtime, team morale and upskilling training makes the difference between an efficient and poorly run construction site. With so many aspects to consider, it may feel like you’re battling to keep all the balls in the air. But some simply are too important to ignore.
