​Paul Netscher has written several easy to read books for owners, contractors, construction managers, construction supervisors and foremen. They cover all aspects of construction management and are filled with tips and insights.
​
The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon.
Find out how Paul Netscher can help you

Today Spain and Italy and 20% of the USA are in lock-down due to coronavirus or covid19. More countries are taking drastic steps to lock-down neighbourhoods, cities, states and countries. Will your construction project be forced to stop work? Will you be prepared for an indefinite closure of your construction project?
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But even if there isn’t a general closure of businesses in your region your construction project could be closed for 14 days if one person tests positive for coronavirus or covid19. Everyone working on the project will be quarantined for two weeks and you may have to get professional cleaners in to disinfect and clean equipment, offices and various facilities. Clients might not even accept completed buildings until they’re professionally cleaned if there’s a risk that surfaces were contaminated by sick workers.

At this stage many closures are indefinite. They could be for 2 weeks, a month, even longer. Who knows?
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What will happen to your construction project while it’s in lock-down? What will the weather be when it’s safe to return? Will your project be safe?

Well here are a few steps to take in preparation.

• Make sure your project is secure. If you have to close up tomorrow will the project be safe? Safe from theft and safe from people getting injured on the project. With schools out you don’t want bored school kids wreaking havoc on your project.
• Will your project be safe from the weather. Lots can happen in the next couple of months. Rain, storms and wind.
  • If you’re in the building business can you close parts of the building. Put extra effort into completing roofs and installing doors and windows. Put in place temporary weatherproofing where possible.
  • With renovation and brownfield projects avoid creating holes in existing roofs and walls which you can’t quickly close.
  • Try and close open excavations. Lay pipes in open trenches. Concrete open foundations. Avoid opening new excavations too far ahead of work.
• Now may be a good time to work extra overtime. I’m generally not an advocate of overtime, but in this case make use of the available time to get ahead on the project schedule, and importantly to secure your project.
• Try to handover sections of the project to the client as soon as possible.
• Get concrete into forms.
• Make sure you have up to date contact details for your crews. During the shutdown it may be necessary to bring back some people if there’s an emergency. Anyway, when people are allowed back to work by the authorities you might not want everyone back on the same day. There could be safety checks to be done, such as checking scaffolding, excavations, etc before work can resume. It may be necessary to pump the project dry. But anyway, sometimes lock-downs are announced over a weekend and it may be necessary to get some people urgently to the project to close it down before the official start of the lock-down on the Monday.
• Plan who needs to work through the lock-down. Are there pumps that must be operated? What about concrete tests and concrete curing? Draft letters for anyone who must still work during the lock-down so they can demonstrate to the authorities that they’re doing essential work.
• If you’re being paid for meeting milestones put every effort into achieving these milestones. It could be a long time before your next payments, so you don’t want to have a milestone 95% completed and you can’t complete it for months while the project is in lock-down.
• Check all storm-water drains are connected and clear of obstructions.
• Remove rubbish regularly so there isn’t litter that could blow around the unattended project during a lock-down.
• Return non-essential hired equipment to suppliers. Try and finish tasks so hired equipment can be returned.

Usually the authorities provide 24 to 48 hours ahead of the lock-down.
To prepare the project:

• Notify all staff, subcontractors, suppliers and the client when the project will close. Stop deliveries so that there are no last minute deliveries to offload just as the site is closing.
• Get urgent work completed. Concrete placed into forms that are ready. In a month’s time forms that aren’t concreted before lock-down will probably have to be stripped, cleaned and reformed. Getting elevated beams and slabs concreted before the lock-down could at least mean that the concrete is gaining strength while the project is closed, so forms can be stripped when work resumes.
• Make sure the project is secure.
• Safely store all small tools, and materials.
• Secure loose materials and protect materials from the weather where necessary.
• Ensure that partly completed work won’t be damaged by storms. Check that roof coverings won’t be ripped off, or unsupported walls blown down. Where possible weather coverings must be installed.
• Check storm-water drains are clear.
• Check temporary barricades are secure and won’t be pushed over by severe winds.
• Where possible put hired equipment off hire. Send equipment back to suppliers where possible.
• Park equipment in secure areas where they won’t be flooded.
• Ensure there are people to do essential tasks during the lock-down. Man the pumps, complete concrete curing and testing. If you’re project is in a trafficked area it may be necessary to have someone periodically visit to check safety barricades and signage. Anyone working must have contact details for the project manager in case of problems. If anyone who is attending to essential work becomes ill in this time, they must not continue working and there should be nominated backup people who can step in.
• Notify the security company of project closure.
• If you are being paid monthly for progress to date, then submit a progress claim to your client for your completed work. Don’t forget to include claims from your subcontractors. Everyone is going to be desperate for money.
• Complete and submit all time/pay sheets so workers can be paid for their time on the project.
• There is usually never enough time for paperwork on construction projects, so the project lock-down could be an opportunity to catch-up. Discuss with your team what work can be done during the lock-down and ensure team members take the required work home with them. Arrange skype calls if necessary. While the project is in lock-down you could complete outstanding variation claims and ensure that quality files are up to date. You may be able to get ahead with preparing method statements and risk assessment for future tasks.
• If your company is responsible for design, then ensure the designers will continue working from home. Arrange protocols for discussing design issues with the client and approving designs and drawings.
• Submit notice of a delay to your client.
• Make sure the project has emergency contact details prominently displayed.
• Before sending everyone home, walk the project site to review the shutdown measures. Is everything tidy, safe and secure.

​Some construction projects may be able to continue working through lock-downs.

• Make sure your suppliers can continue delivering materials.
• Notify your employees and subcontractors that work will continue.
• Check that transport services will still be operating. It may be necessary to lay on your own transport to get workers to the project.
• Take every precaution to ensure workers stay healthy. Anyone who feels ill must stay at home.
• Check with hired equipment suppliers that there will be emergency support to fix equipment breakdowns. 
• Make sure that there will still be office support to pay wages, suppliers and subcontractors.
• Ensure your client will still have staff to process payments.
• Ensure that testing services will still be available.
• Check that your designers will continue working.
• Put in place steps to avoid regular meetings, rather use video conferencing.

​These are testing times for everyone. Being prepared can help reduce some of the fallout from a project lock-down. Good luck to everyone. Stay healthy. Practice commonsense. May the pandemic pass quickly with minimal disruption and sickness so we can return to normal.

Importantly - practice good hygiene and don't get infected and don't make others ill.

For further information on getting your workplace ready for the virus read this advice from the World Health Organisation.
For information on self isolation visit
 Read What will you do if you are quarantined
 Also Read How cononavirus could impact your construction project
 Please like and share.

The job of a construction project manager can be a nightmare if his project goes over budget. Construction projects are required to be completed within their budget. In this article, I discuss some useful tips for project managers to ensure their projects are completed within budget.
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• Documentation: Good documentation is essential. This must be relevant and up to date.
• Cost Management Plan: The cost plan is important in construction projects. It should be realistic and easy to compare actual costs and progress with the budget. It is required to include budgeted cost of everything on the project, like masonry works, flooring quantities, drywall square feet, etc. in the cost management plan so that you know the goals to meet.
• Monitor costs: Know where productivity is wasted. Understand what things cost. Understand your budget. Before you know it, costs could spiral out of control. It will help improve performance and manage the project within budget.
• Communication: Clear communication with employers and clients must convey the message clearly and correctly.
• Construction Project software: Computers and software have made our lives easier. There are many applications and new construction software to track time, progress, production, costs, quality, etc. If properly used and with the correct information, it can help manage and monitor the project.
• Schedule and time-management: Construction projects are not easy. Projects must meet deadlines. Time-management is key to reduce construction cost and remain within the cost plan. Taking too long on a task may lead to cost overruns.
• Shuffling: It may be necessary to move resources and even bring new resources to the project to help areas where the project is clipping behind schedule. Be prepared to modify your plan where necessary.
• External factors: The environment has a great influence on our work and lives. Therefore, prepare plans according to them. Allow for the normal expected weather conditions in the region which could impact work. Understand the local productivity. Allow for known interruptions and interfaces. Expect the unexpected.
• Comparison: Always monitor progress against the schedule and costs against your budget.
• KPIs: Key performance indicators or KPIs are important. They give you a pathway to follow to meet the needs and requirements. So, measure and observe your KPIs and act according to them.

 
So, these are 10 basic tips to complete the project within budget. Hope it will help you to manage the work effectively.
 
Author Bio (John Smith) John is a young civil engineer and project manager who is passionate for writing and sharing his engineering knowledge and construction management skills by writing on different blogs. Website: https://qtoestimating.com

There has been mass quarantining of people due to virus fears in China, South Korea and Italy. In most countries some people have been sent home because of fears that they have the virus, or that their workplace or work colleagues may have been infected by the Covid-19 virus or Coronavirus.

So what will you do if you’re suddenly sent home for 2 weeks or more? What will you do if your workplace or project is temporarily shutdown for a few weeks?

Of course the important thing is to understand whether you’ll be paid for this time away from work, and the type of leave you’ll be using. If it’s unpaid time you may have to contact loan providers to extend their payment terms.
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If you are running a project or business, it’s important to contact customers, suppliers and employees and make sure that they are all aware of the situation.
But what will you do with your time while you’re at home?

​Now some of you will be angry, upset, frustrated, or even worried, if you’re quarantined at home. But really, there’s nothing you can do that will change the situation. The best is to make constructive use of your days. Do something with your enforced days at home. Here are some suggestions:

1. Some may be able to do certain work from home. Well that’s great. However, be careful not to spend the whole day in front of the computer, checking your emails and attending to the odd few things that arise, when maybe this work could be done in a few hours. If you’re doing a little work from home it may be worthwhile recording the hours and what you did in case you need to explain to your boss that you weren’t doing nothing in this time.
2. Spend quality time with your family. I’m sure you’re usually flat out working and don’t have much time for the family. Don’t take out the frustrations of being quarantined on your partner or children. They are probably as frustrated as you. Maybe watch a few movies together and play a few games.
3. Perhaps now is the time to do some of those projects you’ve been intending to do around the house. Some tidying and cleaning. Fixing stuff that’s broken. Even larger projects like painting a few rooms and installing shelves or cupboards. Maybe the garden could do with a makeover. (My book ‘An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses, Vol 2’ has a few ideas for improving homes.) You could even plan a more serious renovation or home build project for later when the country returns to normal. (Reading home building and renovation books, such as my books ‘An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses volumes 1 and 2, could give you a few tips and starting ideas.)
4. If you’re not happy with your current job then now might be a good time to dust off your cv and update it. Towards the end of your quarantine period you can even send off a few job applications.
5. You could spend time on your hobbies. Get stuff done that you’ve been meaning to do for the past few years.
6. Read a good book. There’s tons of books you can download.
7. Learn something new – a new skill or hobby. Maybe something that you’ve been wanting to learn for some time. There’s lots of info on the internet and in self-help books.
8. Improve your skills and qualifications. There are lots of useful books and online courses. (I’ve written several construction management books that may be useful for some). We can all learn something new which could advance our careers.
9. Communicate with old friends and acquaintances who you haven’t spoken to in a while.
10. Plan what needs doing when you get back to work. How will you make up lost time. Of course, don’t dwell on this the whole time. Spend a couple of quiet hours and make some notes. Then move on to the next task.
11. Look at your finances and personal situation. No I don’t mean sell your shares or panic. Rather check that you have the right health insurance, home and car cover, life insurance, etc. Most of us haven’t checked on these for years and we’re probably paying too much for outdated cover. I don’t mean take drastic action and cut policies or take out extra cover – rather just check you have the appropriate cover. Possibly also check your will (not that you’re going to die right now) but just to see that it’s up to date. We all do things and then forget about them and before we know it several years have passed and they are no longer appropriate.
12. Stay healthy. That means eating right and doing some exercise.

​It’s important to have a plan. To structure your days and your week so that you make use of your time. At the start of your quarantine decide what needs to be done and what you would like to attend to. Don’t let the weekdays run into the weekend. If weekend time is usually for the family, then keep it that way. If you’re doing some office work from home then set aside a few hours in the morning and afternoon for this work – then forget about work in between.

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1. Fretting about your situation.
2. Fighting with the family.
3. Searching news stories for good or bad news.
4. Worrying about the stock market.
5. Dragging out tasks to fill the day.
6. Pestering work colleagues with emails about little things.
7. Watching mindless TV that you’re not really interested in.
8. Pestering your partner or children because you’re bored, even though they aren’t.
9. Doing on-line shopping for things you don’t need.
10. Lying around doing nothing.
11. Spending the day snacking on sweets, chocolates and crisps, or consuming too much alcohol.
12. Imagining virus symptoms or other health problems.

​Importantly don’t break your quarantine. Don’t put others at risk if you’re infected. Don’t risk catching the virus from others, which could extend your quarantine further.

We’re usually all flat-out busy at work most of the year, with barely time to think about ourselves or our families. If you’re forced to stay out of work for a few weeks then make the most of the opportunity. Spend time with the family. Do stuff you’ve been meaning to do for years. Learn a new skill. Improve your career. Enjoy your break. Before you know it you’ll be back at work with little time for yourself or your family.

What will you do with your time when you’re quarantined? Are you currently in lockdown – what are you doing with your time?

​For further information on getting your workplace ready for the virus read this advice from the World Health Organisation.
For information on self isolation visit

​Please like and share.

​Paul Netscher has written several easy to read books for owners, contractors, construction managers, construction supervisors and foremen. They cover all aspects of construction management and are filled with tips and insights.
The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon.

There is a demand for heavy equipment and trained heavy equipment operators. The manufacturing of heavy equipment requires skilled welders and specialised welding tools.
 
The construction and manufacturing industries also need consistent welding quality. These results can only be achieved through the use of specialised mechanical welding equipment.
 
Modern manufacturing welding procedures use semi-automatic, machine, automated, and robotic welding equipment.
 
Working with this equipment means different considerations on top of typical welding safety. Read on for important tips on how to keep yourself safe in the workshop, assembly line, or factory when working with heavy welding equipment.

Manual
All control of the welding equipment is performed manually. This includes the manipulation of the welding machinery and manipulation of the work-piece. Manual welding is the most versatile but also the riskiest type of welding, due to the heavy involvement of the welder.

Semi-Automatic
Semi-automatic welding employs the use of equipment that controls some of the welding processes. The electrode feeds automatically to the arc while the welder manipulates the welding gun. Most welders prefer semi-automatic welding to other types of welding.

Machine / Mechanised
A gun, torch, or electrode holder is manipulated by a mechanical device that is operated by the welder. This mechanical device can also be a robot. Mechanised welding allows for safer and faster welding.

Automated
All welding activity is done by machinery, which can be adjusted between, but not during, the welding process. The operator simply needs to switch machinery on and off and watch for any issues with function or quality.
 
Automated welding is ideal for welding that needs to be repeated on multiple pieces with the same results and quality. This is important in factories or assembly lines.
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Robotic
All welding activity is done by a robot/machine similar to automated welding. However, the machinery is robotic and, therefore, is pre-programmed with specific behaviours. This programming minimises the involvement of a person in the process.

Guard Your Machinery
Uncrewed stations are a danger to nearby workers, yet this is the workplace violation most perpetrated by workers.
 
Machinery and robotic equipment may be capable of managing the welding work. But, as with all electrical and robotic equipment, glitches and malfunctions are possible.
 
It’s crucial that you always guard and supervise the work station equipment to minimise any damage or accidents in the event of a malfunction.

Take Extra Care When Interacting with Machinery
No matter the type of machinery, there is a necessity to perform maintenance, testing, or programming regularly; and this has to be done manually by you or a skilled professional.
 
This is the time when most accidents occur, as it is at this point when you will need to make yourself vulnerable and interact directly with the machinery.

Know Your Safety Codes - Such as the America National Standards Institute Safety Code
The ANSI Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes has been written to specify safe welding practices. It’s available for free to read online. First published in 1944 after World War II, this code was revised many times. It was most recently in 2012, to include all modern changes in technology.

​Different types of welding machinery should be used together with specific safety equipment. These items can be used to create a safe welding cell that can easily and safely be operated, manned, and reloaded by you or an employee.
 
In the case of robotic, automated, or mechanised equipment, some of these safety devices, could include:
 

• Safety light curtains - these act as a visual guide for workers to notice areas where they should not place any of their limbs. In the event something crosses the beams, they will switch off equipment.
• Interlocked perimeter guards - barrier walls that are erected around a workstation.
• Pressure-sensitive safety mats - these can be placed around machinery. When trod on, they will switch off the equipment.
• Laser scanners - these work similarly to the way the safety light curtains do. They highlight an area that is not safe, picking up movement, and switching off machinery if someone crosses through the beams.

 
Safety equipment may be expensive, but it can save more than its cost in litigation and compensation fees for injured workers. These resources from the United States Department of Labor prove the value of workplace safety equipment.

​Welding is a dangerous business. Working with automated machinery and robots comes with added complexities which you or your employees should be aware of.
 
Although the equipment may now perform some of the more dangerous tasks, you always need to be vigilant. There are still enough on-the-job injuries that highlight a need to improve workplace safety.

​Paul Netscher has written several easy to read books for owners, contractors, construction managers, construction supervisors and foremen. They cover all aspects of construction management and are filled with tips and insights.
The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon.