Construction Project Management Services and Construction Books
  • Construction Home
  • About Paul Netscher
  • +Construction Books
    • Successful Construction Project Management
    • Building a Successful Construction Company
    • Construction Claims
    • Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights
    • Construction Management: From Project Concept to Completion
    • An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses
    • The Successful Construction Supervisor and Foreman
    • Designing your ideal home
  • Construction Management Services
  • Book Reviews
  • Contact
  • Blog | Construction Management
  • Site Map
  • Blog | Home Improvement
  • Index of construction articles
  • Useful Links
  • Index Home Improvement

How coronavirus (covid-19) could impact your construction project

26/2/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
​Whole regions are being quarantined to prevent the spread of coronavirus (now called covid-19). Thankfully for most of the World so far these areas are mainly in China, with pockets in Italy, South Korea and a few other countries.
​
Obviously for many there’s no reason to panic and the virus seems a long way from most of us. But, no matter where you are in the world your construction project could still feel the ripple impacts of coronavirus. 

How coronavirus could impact your construction project

  1. Shortage of materials and equipment. We live in a global economy and many products used on construction projects are manufactured in China or South Korea. Even items manufactured elsewhere could incorporate parts from these two countries. Items impacted can be simple products like nails and screws, but they could also include many electronic components. Some items on your project could also come from Italy, these could include ceramic and marble tiles and some equipment. Inevitably there will be shortages of some construction items and prices could rise for items which have to be sourced elsewhere.
  2. Clients invested in affected regions, or relying on revenue in these areas, could suffer cash flow problems, and even lose money. If your client is exposed to the impacts of coronavirus this could impact your payments. Is your client immune from the impacts of coronavirus?
  3. Many businesses are becoming more averse to taking on extra risk and starting new construction projects when the full impacts of coronavirus on their business are still unknown. This will delay the start of new construction projects. Projects already running may be slowed or trimmed to reduce the impacts of the project on the rest of the business.
  4. General panic among workers. This could result in people refusing to work with workers of Asian background, or even possibly not working with someone displaying flue like symptoms. This will disrupt work.
  5. Workers travelling to affected regions, or who have travelled with people with the virus, could be quarantined for two weeks or more, which will impact production.

What you can do to protect your construction project

  1. Understand where products incorporated in your project are coming from. Ensure you have sufficient stock. Track the items if they’re coming from regions impacted by the virus and ensure they’re dispatched on schedule. If necessary look at procuring these items elsewhere. Always maintain sufficient stock of materials on your project.
  2. Read you contract and know if you can claim for delays caused by the unavailability of construction materials and equipment due to the impacts of the virus. Most contracts will say that the coronavirus outbreak is a Force Majeure event, which usually means the contractor can claim for the time lost due to the delay, but not the associated costs. So you’re not going to be recompensed for the costs associated with the delay which will hurt your company. In some cases, where you’ve elected to purchase items from coronavirus hotspots while the item was readily available closer to home could mean that you can’t claim an extension of time for delayed deliveries.
  3. Ordering materials from areas currently under quarantine or impacted by the virus, where you should have been aware of the restrictions, could leave you little recourse to claim for a delay caused by the virus if the items aren’t delivered in time. So it’s important to diligently research your construction products' origins before you place an order.
  4. Warn your client as soon as you know there could be a delay caused by materials being unavailable. They can take alternative steps to mitigate the impacts of the delay, and even specify different products.
  5. Understand your client and their business exposure to the virus. Are your payments secure?
  6. Display posters and conduct info sessions with employees on the symptoms of coronavirus and how best to avoid catching it. Avoid hysteria and panic.
  7. Encourage good hygiene and see that there are sufficient hand washing stations on the project. For further information on getting your workplace ready for the virus read this advice from the World Health Organisation.
  8. People with flu-like symptoms should be sent home and encouraged to see a doctor.
  9. Encourage employees to have flu vaccinations. This won’t protect against coronavirus but will prevent other flu’s which could weaken immune systems making employees more susceptible to catching the virus. Anyway, workers suffering from regular flu could cause panic amongst other employees who may automatically assume it must be coronavirus.
  10. Check new project contracts before signing them to ensure that you are protected should the coronavirus impact the project.

If the virus spreads to your area

​Keep an accurate list of people working on the project and entering the project. This should have contact details in the event that someone is taken ill with the virus on your project, so that people who have been in contact with the ill person can be contacted.
​
If your region is directly impacted by the virus there will be transport disruptions. Workers may be prevented from coming to work. Have a plan in place to secure and shut down the project so that it’s safe. Work could be disrupted for several weeks.

​Keep your client informed and discuss closure of the project with them should this be necessary. 

Conclusion - control the impacts on your project

Coronavirus may have only a small impact on your construction project. However, it’s important to be prepared and understand your supply chains and how your project could be impacted.

For the present avoid undertaking projects in areas at risk of the virus. Avoid travelling to risk areas.
​
Hopefully the outbreak of coronavirus or covid-19 will quickly pass into the medical history books, as did SARS and swine flu.

Please like and share.

Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully?

Picture
Click on picture to view books on Amazon
​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.

Need help with your construction project or construction company?

​Contact Paul Netscher for help and advice.
To read more about the author’s books and find out where you can purchase them visit the pages on this website by clicking the links below:
  • '​Successful Construction Project Management: The Practical Guide'
  • 'Building a Successful Construction Company: The Practical Guide'
  • 'Construction Claims: A Short Guide for Contractors'
  • 'Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights'
  • ​'Construction Management: From Project Concept to Completion'
  • 'The Successful Construction Supervisor and Foreman'
  • and 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'
'Construction Book reviews'
To read more about the author visit the page 'Paul Netscher'
Want to contact Paul Netscher please enter your details on 'Contacts'

Find out how Paul Netscher can help you

© 2020 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.
construction management construction project management
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

    Archives

    January 2023
    October 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Copyright 2016 - The attached articles cannot be reproduced for commercial purposes without the consent of the author.
    The opinions expressed in the attached articles are those of the writer. It should be noted that projects are varied and different laws and restrictions apply which depend on the location of the contractor and the project. It's important that the reader uses the supplied information taking cognisance of their particular circumstances. The writer assumes no responsibility or liability for any loss of any kind arising from the reader using the information or advice contained herein.
    "I have what I consider some of the best books on construction management."


    Books are available from:
    Amazon.com
    Amazon.co.uk
    takealot.com

    kalahari.com
    Amazon.in
    Amazon.de
    Amazon.fr
    Amazon.it
    Amazon.com.au
    Powell's
    Fishpond
    uread
    bokus
    Amazon.ca
    Amazon.es
    Other retail stores


    Available in paperback or on Kindle

    ​"28 YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE, DEVELOPING SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS AND BUILDING SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES"

Construction Books

Successful Construction Project management
Building a Successful Construction Company
Construction Claims: A Short Guide for Contractors
Construction Management: From Project Concept to Completion
Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights
​
Build and Renovate Your Home With Your Eyes Wide Open
Book Reviews

Construction services

Construction Management Services
Paul Netscher
Construction Management Blog
​Home Improvement Blog

Contact
Developing Successful Construction Project Managers.

Building Successful Construction Companies.
30 years of construction project management experience
  • Construction Home
  • About Paul Netscher
  • +Construction Books
    • Successful Construction Project Management
    • Building a Successful Construction Company
    • Construction Claims
    • Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights
    • Construction Management: From Project Concept to Completion
    • An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses
    • The Successful Construction Supervisor and Foreman
    • Designing your ideal home
  • Construction Management Services
  • Book Reviews
  • Contact
  • Blog | Construction Management
  • Site Map
  • Blog | Home Improvement
  • Index of construction articles
  • Useful Links
  • Index Home Improvement