 Image courtesy of bplanet at FreeDigitalPhotos.net In our last article Is overtime crushing your construction project? we discussed the cost of working overtime in construction. Often construction managers get into the habit of working extended hours, which adds to the cost of construction, and causes other problems, including accidents and family issues. As we stated though, some workers also get into the habit of relying on extra pay earned from working overtime. Overall working overtime should be discouraged as the costs often far outweigh any benefits to the project. Careful planning and employing a few extra resources can often eliminate the need to work overtime on your construction project. However, we all know that sometimes working extra and extended shifts on construction projects is unavoidable. Even the most well planned construction project can get into trouble and need additional time. Some tasks may have to be done afterhours when the project or the area is less congested. In fact, a few extra hours working a critical trade could make a big difference to the project's overall schedule The golden rules for working overtime Image by skeeze from Pixabay When it is necessary for work to happen after hours on your construction project you can ensure that workers are productive, costs are kept to the minimum, that work is done safely, and that the required tasks are completed by following a few simple rules.
ConclusionProjects should not get in the habit of working overtime. Controlled and limited overtime work can sometimes be beneficial. Always consider whether employing extra resources would be a more cost effective solution to working extended hours. Other useful articles Will your construction project be 100% complete when it's finished? Are you employing the right people on your construction project? How much is your brand worth? Why a good brand is vital for construction companies. Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully 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.
Visit to read more. The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon. © 2021 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.
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 Image by s m anamul rezwan from Pixabay Costs of construction overtimePeople working overtime are usually paid 50%, or even double their normal rates. Are they 50 to a 100% more productive? Definitely not. In fact they’re probably less productive. Manual work is physically exhausting. Even operating a machine for extended hours is tiring. I found that production after working 9 hours fell dramatically. Working an extra hour possibly only yielded an additional half hour’s production. In effect the company is paying an hour for half and hour’s work – or double time. Add the premium for overtime and it becomes a very expensive additional half hour’s work. But overtime can become even more expensive. Often overtime isn’t controlled properly. So people say they’ve worked the extra hours (and are paid the time) but they haven’t. Workers are often not supervised properly after hours, workers slack off, or they’re left waiting for instruction, so productivity is lower. Sometimes key workers, perhaps like a crane operator, aren’t there, which means that other workers can’t operate effectively. When equipment breaks down afterhours there often isn’t anyone available to repair the items, and without the item the team can’t work properly. Problem of working excessive hours on construction projectsSometimes workers enjoy working overtime to earn the additional overtime rates. But, to compensate they may take another day as a rest day, so they work the same hours, but some hours are paid at the higher overtime rate. On the days when they’re absent it impacts the efficiencies of their team – especially if they’re a critical component. Working excessive overtime can lead to tiredness and result in mistakes and even accidents.  Image by wal_172619 from Pixabay The right balance on construction projectsUnfortunately some projects get into a routine of working overtime. Those are the hours that were worked on the last project, or those are the hours that were instituted at the start of the project. In fact, some workers become used to earning the additional wages earned from working overtime so they even object when the overtime hours are cut. Often employing a couple of extra people and hiring additional equipment will negate the need to work overtime and it will be cheaper than working the additional hours. Sometimes overtime is essential to catch up lost time, or to complete a critical task, but it might not be required that the whole project works extra hours. Check who should work overtime, ensure only those workers stay longer. Then ensure that they will have all the necessary support services and supervision so that they can work efficiently and safely. Other useful articles planning your construction project labour productivity on construction sites Will your construction project be completed on schedule? Read this  This article is an extract from the book 'The Successful Construction Supervisor and Foreman'. Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully 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.
Visit to read more. The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon.  Winter is usually considered the off-season for construction, but a savvy crew can still complete plenty of work when the temperature drops. Working in cold weather presents its own challenges. What are the most common construction safety issues, and what can you do to prevent or mitigate them? Dealing With Snow and Ice One of the most obvious hazards of construction work in winter is the accumulation of snow and ice. In addition to being cold, this buildup can create traction issues and slip-and-fall accidents for both team members and equipment. Before each day, take the time to inspect the job site. Be on the lookout for snow or ice buildup. Footpaths and areas that get a lot of traffic — pedestrian or otherwise — should be covered with salt or kitty litter to provide traction and melt the ice. Excessive ice buildup should be chipped away or otherwise removed to prevent it from causing bigger issues in the future. Protecting Construction Equipment From Cold WeatherHuman crew members aren’t the only ones at risk in cold temperatures. You’ll also need to take steps to protect your construction equipment, especially if you don’t normally operate during the winter months. Start by carrying out some winter-centric maintenance — double-checking things like tire inflation and fluid levels. Ensure your antifreeze is up to the task, especially if you’ve been topping off the radiator with water during the summer. If you’re not sure, or you don’t have a hydrometer on hand to test, flushing and refilling the cooling system is your best option. Pouring Concrete in Cold TemperaturesCool and dry weather isn’t necessarily a bad thing for curing concrete, but once you drop below a certain temperature, it can prevent it from hardening to its full strength. If you’re pouring concrete in the depths of winter, look into tools for keeping your pour warm and dry while you wait for it to cure. Concrete blankets can be incredibly affordable and can let you keep working through the season. Keeping Your Construction Crew SafeHumans can adapt to most environments, but we need tools to protect us from the elements. Frostbite and exposure to the elements are major concerns for teams working in cold weather. Ensure that everyone is property attired before they come onto the job site in the morning. Provide them with heated tents or offices where they can get out of the elements for breaks or lunches, and encourage your team to take frequent breaks throughout the day. Staying Warm in WinterWintertime doesn't have to cause projects to grind to a halt. You just need to make sure everyone is ready to work outdoors when the temperature starts to drop. Maintenance, preparation and a few extra tools can make all the difference, especially if you live or work in an area that’s prone to extreme cold during the winter. Construction can continue and deadlines can be met despite the challenges of the season. Author Bio: Rose Morrison is a freelance writer who covers construction and building design topics. She is also the managing editor for Renovated. Other Useful Articles How To Select The Appropriate Construction Method To Increase Safety And Efficiency Top Safety Concerns on Construction Sites - And How to Avoid Them Construction projects and high temperatures - do you know the risks? Why Safety Is Important On Your Construction Project Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully? 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.
Visit to read more. The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon. COVID-19 has caused havoc in the construction industry Image by Alexey Hulsov from Pixabay Builders need to change the way they operate and manage construction projects to secure their long-term success. With coronavirus cases on the rise again in the UK, America, Europe and many other countries, certain restrictions have been reintroduced across nations. The construction industry will continue to operate, but now more than ever standards of health and safety need to be enforced to reduce the rate and risk of infection. The question that contractors are facing is how to balance keeping their workforce healthy while continuing to operate to maintain economic security. As more research is conducted into covid-19, authorities have published advice calling for work to resume as long as all recommended precautions can be enforced. Read on to learn more builders’ guidelines for work in the time of COVID-19. Get everyone in your construction team involvedEmployee education and communication are essential tools for fighting this viral pandemic. Your construction teams should be kept updated about the latest COVID-19 facts, including how the germs can be spread. The rationale behind protocols and how they could help prevent covid-19 infection should be clearly explained and repeated regularly to keep facts fresh in employees’ minds. Posters with the same details should be posted in portable toilets and common areas for the same reason. Specific time slots within working hours should be allocated for these information sessions. If workers are concerned that the time spent learning about the virus will be docked from their wages they might not take in or understand the information they’re presented with. Keeping your construction crews in the loop will have the added benefit of maintaining a sense of community and camaraderie. Each worker will feel they’re part of a team and be more likely to voice concerns and let their supervisors know about potential problems. If there’s a feeling that everyone is in this together, someone who feels ill won’t be worried about losing their job and will inform their co-workers immediately – lessening the chance of an outbreak among staff. Don't forget to include all your subcontractors, they are vital to the success of your construction project and keeping it covid-19 safe. Follow covid-19 guidelines Image by Annalise Batista from Pixabay While the advised measures from the United Kingdom’s government don’t quite stretch to modular walk-through anti-virus stations, they’re impressively thorough and comprehensive. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy issued specific regulations for construction and other outdoor work, and the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published its own suggestions. They’re presented here, along with various additional measures that many operators in the United Kingdom have decided to adopt. ● The guidelines stipulate that anyone who feels ill, has a temperature or is coughing should either stay home or go home as soon as these symptoms develop. ● Face coverings should be worn over the nose and mouth on public transport and in enclosed spaces. At the same time, touching the face, eyes, nose and mouth should be avoided wherever possible. ● When eating, workers should wash their hands after removing their face coverings but before touching their food. Food and drink shouldn’t be shared with anyone during this time. ● Similarly, implementing a “no handshake” policy is a good idea. Soap, running water and disposable hand towels should be provided at several strategic locations on building sites. ● Anyone arriving on a site ought to be given hand sanitiser. Used tissues should be thrown into a rubbish bin that’s been designated for that specific purpose. ● While temperature screenings are not mandatory, several companies are enforcing them. ● Appropriate social distancing (at least 1 metre and preferably 2 metres between each person) must be maintained. As an added precaution, some construction companies have begun disinfecting high-touch, shared areas on a daily basis. Such areas include scaffolding, breakrooms, shared tools, crew vehicles’ steering wheels, gear sticks and door handles and bathroom facilities. Shifts should be staggered between different tradespeople and even different groups of the same type of workers to prevent large gatherings on your construction project. Meeting size should be restricted, and weather permitting, held in the open air whenever possible. Individuals who are especially at risk of infection, such as those with diabetes or other chronic diseases, should work from home if they can. Video calls should replace site inspections and face-to-face appointments unless in-person meetings are absolutely essential. This includes home visits and discussions with clients; email, telephone calls and video communications or even text messages are strongly recommended. Plan Ahead for Project Changes  Image by Queven from Pixabay It’s important to remember that the fallout from COVID-19 will be huge and to expect and plan for this on your construction project wherever possible. Projects will take longer to complete as staff education, sanitising procedures, absences due to self-isolation and team staggering all eat into building schedules. Additionally, masks, hand sanitiser, posters and other educational equipment all cost extra funds that could drain resources. That’s before the impact of smaller meetings and reduced face-to-face contact have even been considered. Every decision will be delayed slightly because discussions won’t be able to flow as freely with as many people, which could ramp up costs and timeframes considerably. Additionally, some instances cannot be planned for – such as subcontractors not being properly educated on the virus and thus transmitting the disease to an otherwise COVID-free building site. Adjust Project Parameters Every construction project is unique, and the required health and safety measures will differ from job to job. The requirements for fitting doors and windows won’t be the same as those needed for a full-scale house build or roadworks. The best course of action employers and workers can take would be to evaluate their specific construction projects and then enforce and maintain all possible precautions. Reviewing the situation regularly as your construction project develops, additional restrictions are imposed or new information about COVID-19 is learned, is also an excellent idea. The pandemic will cause financial losses and it will take time for the global economy to recover. But overwhelming as it might feel, everyone is in the same situation. The only real option is to work together to weather the storm. There’s never been a more appropriate time to stick to the good old British motto: Keep calm and carry on! Author Bio: With a background in project management and a love for writing, Mara Sampson is an editor for Build World, the UK’s top builder’s merchant and build material supplier. Other useful articles: Force Majeure In Construction Contracts: Tips And Traps Prepare your construction project for covid-19 lockdown What will you do if you are quarantined? Who is responsible for safety on your construction project? Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully 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.
Visit to read more. The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon.  10 Questions to ask that will make you a better Contractor
Take a little extra time to ask these questions and your projects will be completed safely, with good quality, more productively and quicker. Other Useful Construction ArticlesHow to improve cash flow on your construction projects - Part 1 Who is responsible for safety on your construction project? Who is responsible for quality on your construction project? The 10 P’s of successful construction project management Are you working for free on your construction project? Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully 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. Visit to read more. The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon. © 2020 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.
 Productivity on construction projects is often low. We frequently see people and equipment standing idle on construction projects. There is also often rework on projects, with tasks having to be redone because of poor quality, or even because tasks were done out of sequence before previous tasks had been completed. We discussed productivity in our previous articles Construction productivity and How to improve construction productivity Even small productivity improvements, better use and utilisation of resources, can dramatically add to an increase in profits on your construction project. In this article we look at how you can improve productivity of your construction equipment. Improving productivity of construction equipmentEquipment is often hired or rented. Even equipment owned by the company is usually hired or rented by the project. The rental is per hour or day. But even equipment that’s rented per hour has to be paid a minimum number of hours per day – usually 8 to 9 hours. Equipment is never more productive than the operators. So, as discussed previously, many projects only get 7 hours production from their workers in a 10 hour day. Therefore the equipment will also only work 7 hours. But, even then there are things that reduce equipment productivity even further.  Construction equipment teamsOften equipment works in a team. So with earthmoving equipment, there’s an excavator that loads trucks. If there aren’t sufficient trucks for the excavator then the excavator will stand waiting for the next truck. Obviously, if there are too many trucks then the trucks won’t be totally productive. The number of trucks required for an excavator to load depends on many factors. This includes, the size of the excavator and the size of the trucks. A bigger excavator will load trucks quicker, while large trucks will each take a bigger load. The time taken for the truck to travel from where it’s loaded to where it tips the load, plus the time taken to return, dictates the number of trucks required. This depends on the distance. So the shorter the distance the quicker the truck returns. It’s also dependant on the speed of the truck, which depends on the power of the truck – underpowered trucks could struggle to get going and battle up inclines. The speed is also affected by the quality of the road, so trucks travelling on roads which have lots of bumps and potholes will go slower. Obstructions in the road, other traffic (slow or stopped vehicles), congestion and other construction work will slow the trucks. Of course trucks usually must maintain a safe speed and keep within the project speed restrictions. It pays to maintain the haul roads (the roads trucks travel from loading to tipping) in good condition. Spending money to make good roads at the start of the project is often money well spent. Where possible, ensure the roads follow the shortest possible route and that loaded trucks are kept away from work areas and other vehicles. The efficiency of the operation is also impacted by how quickly the truck can get into the load position and how quickly it can move off. If the truck has to make numerous turns, backing in and out, it could waste several minutes while the excavator waits for the truck to get into position to be loaded. Loading should be planned so that the truck can easily drive in and out. Of course often the ground is being taken to a place where it must be levelled and compacted. This operation is part of the chain. If the grader, compactors and water trucks can process the ground quicker than the excavator and trucks can supply the ground, then the grader and compactor won’t be 100% productive because they’ll be waiting for more ground. But, if the grader and compactor can’t compact the ground quickly enough, then the excavator and trucks may be standing while they’re waiting for the compacting operation to catch up. If the excavator breaks down, then the whole operation stands. The same happens if the grader breaks down. The Alarming Truth about Using Old Construction Equipment  The right size construction machineBut, it’s also about getting the size of equipment right. Small excavators take longer to load trucks. Small trucks are loaded quicker, so more trucks are required, and there’s more time wasted manoeuvring trucks into the loading position. But trucks which are too large might not be able to be loaded by excavators and loaders which are too small, or the excavator may only reach part of the truck, causing an uneven distribution of soil on the truck resulting in unused space on the truck, and the uneven distribution of the load could damage the truck suspension and the truck could even over topple. Equipment and trucks that are too big might be less manoeuvrable and unsuitable for congested work areas. Read What Size Equipment Is Right for Your Construction Project? Skilled operatorsExcavators can operate more efficiently with a skilled operator than one less skilled. An operator that can load a truck in say 4 minutes compared to one that loads the truck in 5 minutes is 20% more efficient. In an hour they could load 15 trucks versus 12 trucks the slower operator loads. Read Are you employing the right people on your construction project? In our next article we discuss construction equipment productivity further.  This article is an extract from the book 'The Successful Construction Supervisor and Foreman'. Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully 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.
Visit to read more. The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon.  Picture courtesy of J Neto Choosing equipment for your construction project isn’t as easy as walking into your local equipment dealership and pointing at the one that looks the coolest. A lot of factors go into choosing the perfect machine for the job, such as cost, efficiency, fuel type and operating requirements. One of the most important things to consider when choosing a new piece of machinery is the size. Which size equipment is right for your job? Understand Your Construction ProjectThe first detail to look at is the size and scope of your job. This will vary from project to project — the equipment you need to build a single-family home won’t be the same as the fleet you’ll need to construct a skyscraper or office building. This is one case where size matters, and bigger isn’t always better. If your equipment is too large, you won’t be able to complete the necessary task, or if you can, it will be with some degree of difficulty. It doesn’t take much, especially in the early stages of a project, to swing an oversized excavator bucket right through a wall. If you’re lucky, all you’ll damage is the wall. If you’re not, you could bring the whole roof down on your head. Either way, you’re stuck with costly repairs and looming deadlines because you just had to have the biggest piece of equipment on the lot. It’s like trying to paint a detailed portrait with the largest brush at the store. You might end up with something resembling your project at the end, but it won’t be perfect. You might even end up inadvertently doing more damage with large equipment than you would with properly sized machines. On the other side of the coin, you don’t want to choose something that’s too small for the job. You wouldn’t try to dig a ditch with a spoon, and you shouldn’t try to finish a project with a tool that’s too small.  Picture courtesy of J Neto Things to Consider When Choosing Construction EquipmentSize isn’t the only thing you need to consider when choosing construction equipment for your next project. Each type of machinery will have its own factors you’ll need to explore to determine if it’s the best option for a particular project. If you need an excavator to dig a hole or trench, you should assess everything from dig depth and reach length to bucket size and lifting capacity. Sticking with the excavator example, you need to look at size and application. Mini excavators are ideal for crowded worksites, small projects or cases when you’ll need to move your equipment between multiple job sites. Larger excavators become useful for massive projects or cases where a mini version just won’t be enough to do the job. Digging extensive trench work for new utility lines would be a job for a larger excavator. Moving earth to flatten a backyard before installing a deck is a job better suited for smaller equipment.  Ask yourself these questions when choosing a new piece of construction equipment:
 What Size Equipment Is Right for Your Project?We can offer you all the advice in the world, but when it comes down to it, deciding your equipment size is a very personal decision. What works for one project might not work for someone else on a similar one. Take the time to do your research and figure out which equipment size will work best for you and your goals. Remember that bigger isn’t always better, and sometimes you’ll want to downsize to get the job done. If you keep that in mind, you’ll be fine. Author Bio: Rose Morrison is a freelance writer who covers construction and building design topics. She is also the managing editor for Renovated. Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully? 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.
Visit to read more. The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon.  Image by s m anamul rezwan from Pixabay As we saw in our previous article Construction productivity, time is lost at every rest break and at the start and end of the shift. Project managers, foremen and supervisors must ensure that workers get to their work areas as quickly as possible and don’t start drifting off the job site before the start of the rest breaks and before the end of the shift. Construction workers will always take a chance unless working hours are enforced. The 5 minutes will become 10 minutes if nothing is said, and eventually 10 minutes becomes 15. Locating stores, offices and toilets close to the work areas helps minimise the lost time. Construction skillsA skilled construction worker is often more productive than a less skilled worker. How can you improve the skills of your crews? Well obviously employing a skilled person in the first place is a good start. It’s also important to train your team. This training can be in the form of on the job training and mentoring as well as more formal off-site training. I know we hate losing people for a few weeks while they’re at a training course, but almost always you will be rewarded with a more skilled and productive worker when they return. Motivating people is important. A demotivated crew could be 50% less productive than a motivated crew.  Use the right toolsUsing the wrong construction tools, or construction equipment that is underpowered or too small for the job, means the task will take longer and the operator will be less productive. Using blades and drills which are blunt will be slower and risk damaging the equipment. Obviously construction equipment that frequently breaks down destroys productivity. Having insufficient tools or equipment may result in someone waiting for an item because someone else is using it. Of course, it may also be impractical for everyone to have their own machine. This would mean that there’re increased costs to purchase or hire the item, which will eventually be more than the potential savings which resulted from workers not waiting for the item. It’s a balance to maximise the productivity of both people and equipment. Planning and organising your construction siteOf course construction crews need to be balanced. So for instance, if there’re insufficient workers to fix the steel reinforcing in place, then this operation could go slower than other operations, which could then delay the following carpenters and concreters – making them less productive. If the access scaffolding isn’t in place in time, then the carpenters and the steel reinforcing fixers may be delayed. Work crews often wait for construction materials and equipment. Frequently materials have to be lifted in place with a crane. But cranes regularly have to be shared with other workers and other construction crews, even subcontractors sometimes. If one crew uses the crane longer than necessary because they weren’t prepared for the crane when it was their turn to use it, then it will impact others who are waiting to use the crane. It’s important to understand that if your crew uses the crane longer than they should, that this could impact another crew who is waiting to use the crane. Skilled workers are paid more than unskilled workers. Often unskilled workers can be used to undertake regulation tasks and help the skilled workers. This will result in the skilled workers achieving more production.  Improving productivity on construction projectsProductivity on most construction projects is poor. It should be easy to improve productivity by 5 to 10%. Wages and salaries on most projects account for about 30% of the costs. If everyone is 10% more productive this could mean that the wages and salaries on the project are reduced by 10%, which overall is a saving of 3% for the project. A 3% saving might not sound much, but effectively this results in 3% more profit, which means if the project was priced to make 10% profit then the project potentially could make 13% profit. In effect the profit has increased by 30%. Now every manager would be very pleased to increase profits by 30%. But it’s often even possible to improve labour productivity by much more than 10%. Of course improving the productivity of construction workers has other benefits, which include that productivity of construction equipment increases, the project may be completed in a shorter duration, fewer workers may be required which will result in savings when the project is providing transport and accommodation for the workers, and fewer workers requires less personal protective equipment and company uniforms. Planning the construction project properly will improve productivity. This means ensuring that you have sufficient workers with the right skills. It includes seeing that your construction crews have the right equipment. That there is proper access to the work areas. That preceding work is completed so that the next tasks can be done. That all the required construction materials are available, including all the fixings to fit the items. Selecting the right construction methods can improve production. Good communication is essential to productivity. Workers that don’t know, or understand, what they should be doing may make mistakes, or they could waste time waiting for instructions or clarification of what to do. Sometimes it’s worth paying more for special equipment (such as specialist formwork) which will simplify tasks, speeding them up or reducing the number of people required. Where possible, don’t frequently move people from one task to another, since there’s lost time while they readjust to the new task. In our next articles we look at construction equipment productivity Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully 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.
Visit to read more. This article is an extract from the book 'The Successful Construction Supervisor and Foreman'. The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon. © 2020 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.  It was 1989. Bob Berkebile, a creative thinker with a passion for the environment, wondered how he and his fellow architects could design environmentally responsible buildings. Berkebile formed a small committee, and his idea gained traction. The U.S. Green Building Council, a leading agency in sustainable design and construction, was eventually born. The USGBC’s green rating system is called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED and it is used around the globe today. Projects that promote health, energy efficiency and cost savings are awarded LEED certification in various categories. The movement that Berkebile started has forever changed the way structures are designed and built. It has even changed traditional approaches to disposing of waste. Construction waste a huge problem Picture courtesy of Pixabay In 2018, the U.S. generated around 600 million tons of construction and demolition, or C&D, materials. That was dramatically up from the estimated 136 million tons generated in 1996. Anything that is being built, renovated or torn apart — such as buildings, production plants, highways and bridges — creates debris. Demolitions account for about 90 percent of the waste. The Environmental Protection Agency urges contractors to stop thinking of C&D materials as waste and start thinking of them as commodities. The discussion is not just limited to doors, hardware, plumbing fixtures, and other intact building components. Scrap metals, plastics, wood, glass, bricks, concrete, and asphalt also have value, yet they are sent to landfills every day. The construction industry can join efforts with the EPA in several ways: reducing waste at the source, reusing salvageable materials, recycling or donating materials, and purchasing C&D materials for use on new projects. These are also good pathways to earning LEED certification. Reducing construction wasteOne of the best ways to manage C&D waste is to not generate it in the first place. For example, architects and designers are making buildings more adaptable for a variety of potential uses in the future. For contractors, source reduction is a matter of keeping waste prevention on the front burner throughout the planning process: • Deliberately choose products that are reusable, recyclable, or easy to disassemble. • Choose vendors that promote waste prevention. • Choose products with minimal packaging. • Take inventory of supplies more often. • Verify that measurements are precise. • Teach subcontractors to identify and sort reusable or recyclable materials on the job site.  Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay Reusing construction and demolition materialsThe savings associated with salvaging and reusing materials make this a popular way to do one’s part. In some areas of the country, it is significantly less expensive to recover valuable products than it is to dispose of them in landfills. What can and cannot be reused varies depending on location, but these are some commonly repurposed items: • Appliances • Fixtures • Doors • Hardware • Marble • Sinks, bathtubs, and toilets • Mirrors • Multipaned windows • Wood flooring, cabinetry, scrap wood, and wood cutoffs • Bricks, concrete, and stonework • Ironwork • Leftover paint • Excess insulation • Gypsum removed from drywall • Packing materials Leveraging DeconstructionThere is a growing trend toward dismantling structures rather than destroying them altogether. Deconstruction has several benefits: • Usable materials are easier to locate and recover. • The country requires fewer landfills. • Greenhouse gas emissions from incinerators and landfills are reduced. • More trees are conserved. • Materials remain local to eliminate the harmful effects of extracting resources and shipping new products. • Unwanted materials can be donated to individuals or groups that post a wish list. These include vocational training centers, local business owners, schools, artists, woodworkers, and community theater groups. • Deconstruction provides jobs and creates business opportunities. The best structures for deconstruction include wood-framed buildings, buildings that contain valuable materials or products, and buildings that are structurally sound. If a structure has begun to decay but still retains valuable elements, it can be partially deconstructed before demolition. Recycling construction and demolition materials Image by Wolfgang Eckert from Pixabay There is no denying that the U.S. recycling system could use some work. Well-intentioned contractors are often unsure about which materials can be recycled and where to drop them off. The EPA is working to clear up the confusion. In October of 2020, the agency released its National Recycling Strategy and invited public feedback. The main objectives are to reduce contamination, make processing more efficient and expand markets for recyclable products. In the meantime, in areas where markets exist, wood can be repurposed for compost, mulch or even furniture. Most metals used in construction are recyclable. Concrete, gravel and asphalt are used to make new products or aggregate. Cardboard is not technically a C&D material, but packaging from job sites need not go to waste. It is worth noting that some supposed recycling centers take shortcuts or otherwise mismanage materials. Useful products end up in landfills right along with useless ones. Contractors should verify that the processing center is licensed or has third-party certification and complies with regulations. The website of the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association has a tool for searching recycling centers by location and material type. Purchasing recycled construction materials Image by naeem mayet from Pixabay Reuse centers or retail businesses carry everything from millwork to fencing to architectural molding. The retail stores typically have a smaller selection, but their materials and products are of greater value. Many products have been cleaned up or otherwise prepared for sale. Waste and material exchanges are also good options. Waste exchanges usually handle hazardous substances while material exchanges do not. Some exchanges are brick-and-mortar warehouses with a catalog of goods. Others connect buyers and sellers through a website. Buying used C&D materials not only promotes sustainability, but it makes good business sense. Construction and renovation costs are reduced. Since used products are almost always sourced locally, communities get an economic boost. The EPA’s Comprehensive Procurement Guideline Program is a great resource for buying used C&D products. Keeping C&D materials out of landfills is a gift that will keep on giving for generations to come. LEED certification is an additional perk for contractors. A LEED-certified home or business is a testament to innovation and sustainability. There are many benefits to reducing waste from construction and demolitionDisposing of construction materials is expensive. There's the cost to load it, transport it, then the dump fees. There's also the cost to the environment. The environmental cost to get rid of the material, the environmental cost to create new materials, and the environmental impacts of the dump. Recycling and reusing materials is often cheaper. Upcycling old buildings could be cheaper, and certainly less harmful to the environment. It may even help protect heritage buildings and heritage features. Buildings with good LEED certification can command higher prices from buyers. More people are environmentally conscious these days. Anyway shouldn't we be protecting the future that our children will inherit? This is a guest post. Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully? 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.
Visit to read more. The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon.  The construction industry is one of the largest in the county, and due to the nature of the work, can also be one of the most dangerous. In 2018, more than 20% of on-the-job fatalities occurred in the construction industry. You read that right - one out of every five deaths in the workplace happened on a construction site. Many of the most common jobsite hazards are easy to avoid with a little bit of training and preparation. What are the most common safety concerns on today’s construction site and how can you avoid them? Navigating the Fatal Four Hazards on Your Construction ProjectWhen talking about construction site hazards, one of the most common things you’ll learn is how to navigate what OSHA calls the Fatal Four -- the four events most likely to cause on the job fatalities. The four most common construction safety hazards are:
Each has its own causes and challenges that supervisors and site managers need to address to keep their team safe on the job.  Image by F. Muhammad from Pixabay Preventing Falls Any time a worker is above ground level, there is the risk for a fall. The easiest way to prevent these injuries and potential fatalities is to ensure that everyone is using the correct fall arrest equipment whenever they’re off the ground. Install perimeter protection around the edges of current projects, and make sure to mark any openings clearly. Preventing Struck-By Struck-by events can range from annoying to devastating, depending on the size and mass of the object involved. Ensure that everyone is aware of moving objects on the job site at all times, and do not allow anyone to walk or work between moving and fixed objects. High visibility clothing should also be a requirement on these sites. Preventing Caught In/Between Caught in/between events most often happen in trenches or other excavation projects. Ensure that no one is allowed into unprotected excavation sites, especially before protection systems are installed. Even if it looks solid, there’s no guarantee that it is.  Preventing Electrocution Everyone on the job site needs to be aware of potential electrical hazards, from overhead or buried power lines to portable equipment with frayed or damaged power cords. Inspect all work spaces carefully before beginning to ensure that all potential electrical hazards are addressed. Train employees on proper lockout/tagout procedures for any equipment that you may need to take offline for repairs. Dealing with Weather Hazards Weather conditions in different parts of the world each present their own unique hazards that you’ll need to be prepared for. Both extreme heat and extreme cold can put employees at risk and you’ll have to address each one differently.  For extreme cold temperatures, ensure that everyone is wearing enough layers of clothing to stay warm. Focus on parts of the body that may be at more risk for injury in the cold, such as the fingers and ears. Provide heated spaces for your team to take breaks during the day. Providing warm drinks might be a good idea too. For hot weather, shade and frequent breaks are going to be your best friend. Try to avoid working during the peak daylight hours between 10am and 3pm so your team and their equipment isn’t spending the entire day in direct sunlight. Work early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Preventing Repetitive Motion Injuries Repetitive motion injuries occur, as their name suggests, when an employee does the same motion over and over for long periods. Overexertion, which can be very common in the construction industry, only makes them worse. Encourage proper lifting techniques through both training and practice. In some situations, you may even want to consider implementing some low-grade automation for mundane tasks to prevent these injuries from occurring. Ensure your construction team returns home safeEach year many workers are killed or injured on construction projects. Construction is one of the most hazardous occupations. But it does not have to be like this. You can ensure that your construction project is safe, and that you and your team work safely without injury, by taking a few extra precautions and ensuring your team understand the hazards of construction. Author Bio: Rose Morrison is a freelance writer who covers construction and building design topics. She is also the managing editor for Renovated. Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully? 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.
Visit to read more. The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon. Retired Construction Professional with Management Experience of Over 120 Construction Projects  This week in his "THIS IS MY STORY" Steve Keightley-Smith features Paul Netscher - a Construction Professional with over 30 years experience to read more click here
 Is your crew 100% productive? Is all the equipment on your project 100% productive? Now many project managers and supervisors will answer that of course their crew and equipment are productive. But how productive? Consider this, if your crew works 10 hours a day and they’re paid 10 hours, but in this time they have a 30 minute lunch break and two 15 minute tea breaks, then straight off they are only working 9 hours. Now the breaks are pre-set and may have nothing to do with the project manager or supervisor. But let’s consider more. Are workers at their work stations at the start of the shift? Almost definitely not! There’s tools and materials to collect, prestart meetings, time for a chat, then a walk to the job site. At least 15 minutes is lost – and that’s on a good project, because it’s often more like 20 to 30 minutes. What about each side of the rest breaks? Inevitably workers start drifting to the toilets and eating areas 5 minutes before the start of the rest break. Then, afterwards they straggle back to the work site, taking 5 to 10 minutes to start work again. At least 30 minutes has been lost over the 3 rest and meal breaks!. Then the end of the shift. On many projects workers are all washed up and queued at the project gates at the end of the shift. To do this they’ve left their work station 15 minutes earlier so they could walk to the store, return tools and clean up. A 10 hour shift has been reduced to 8 hours and they haven’t even started to work! How productive is your construction crew? Image by mrandolph from Pixabay But what happens while they’re working? Inevitably there’re interruptions. A chat with other workers, toilet visits, waiting for cranes, stepping aside so that others can do work, equipment breakdowns, walking back to the store to get other materials, waiting for instructions from the supervisor, and more. Then when one task is finished they have to move to another task, fetch new materials and equipment for that task and familiarise themselves with the new task. Before you know it the work day is 7 hours. But, this’s probably a good day. I regularly factored in 70% productivity in a work day when I priced projects. So imagine if your workers takes 10 minutes to return from their rest breaks instead of the 5 minutes I allowed above. Suddenly they’ve lost another 15 minutes. 15 minutes on 7 hours is a loss of 3.5%. Now most construction companies only price 10 to 15% profit on their projects. So losing 3.5% of production every day would reduce a 10% profit on labour to only 6.5% – which is a 35% reduction in profit. Now nobody would be happy with that.  Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay To continue with the discussion, we have a crew that’s physically working on the job site for 7 hours – are they actually producing what they should, working at maximum production? Now I’ve worked in several different countries and it amazes me how production varies between countries. But production also varies between projects, supervisors and work crews. In this instance, let’s say the estimator assumed a carpenter could erect 1 square metre of concrete forms per hour. In 7 hours that’s 7 square metres. But if your crew is only completing 6 square metres in the day then they’re producing only 86% of what the price allowed. In other words, for every square metre of formwork it’s costing the company 15% more than they’re being paid to erect the formwork. In fact, if your company has a 10% profit margin for the item, then they’re losing money! Of course it works the other way as well. If your crew is erecting 8 square metre of forms versus the 7 allowed, then your crew is making an additional 14% profit. If the company has a 10% profit margin on the item, suddenly your crew is making the 10% plus an additional 14%, which is a huge increase in profits. In future articles we look at what impacts productivity, and equipment productivity. Read How to improve construction productivity Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully? 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.
Visit to read more. The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon.  troy-mortier-AieHOEGMKmk-unsplash Construction is an expensive business. Quality building materials, experienced workers, good safety practices and new equipment can all drive up the capital needed for a project. That's not even considering the costs of potential delays due to maintenance, weather or the occasional miscommunication. Finding ways to cut down costs can help improve margins or even make it possible to take on more projects. Lower expenses can also ensure you can keep your business running, even when the work doesn't go as planned. These five tips are some of the best ways to reduce costs without cutting corners on modern construction sites. 1. Use New Construction Tools and Techniques Material costs in construction tend to increase seasonally and each year. Combating these rising expenses can provide some extra breathing room in a company's budget. New approaches to material management can help you control these costs. For example, modular building lets your team take advantage of off-site construction and on-site assembly. This can potentially cut back on waste and reduce the total amount of material necessary for a given project. Because modular building can also help you shorten project build times, you may be able to save on labor, as well. Advanced tech, like new building information modeling tools, can also help here. With the right tool, you can lower the risk of mistakes or identify areas where you may safely reduce material usage. 2. Source Used Equipment Equipment costs can take up a major portion of any construction company's budget. Used machinery is often comparable in quality to new, while typically being significantly cheaper. You're also less likely to deal with depreciation costs when taking the preowned route. While used equipment may have different maintenance needs, good practices and on-site technicians can likely prevent any potential issues. Working with a reputable dealer will also ensure that any used machine is of high quality and in good shape. 3. Implement Preventive Maintenance Practices Equipment downtime can result in major costs. You will have to manage the expense of repairing the damaged or broken equipment, and you'll also deal with the cost of working around the failed machinery — or stopping work altogether. A preventive maintenance plan is an investment and may require a part-time mechanic on-staff. However, it can also reduce the risk that your operations are brought to a halt by machine failure that you could've seen coming.  jamar-penny-ZgmGq_eFmUs-unsplash 4. Improve Office Staff Management Simple changes to office staff management can help significantly reduce costs. For example, cross-training your employees may lessen the need for temporary employees. Because of how expensive it is to bring on and train new hires, it may be cheaper to maintain permanent full-time or part-time workers for a set of tasks rather than use temps. Does your business have an off or slow season where you see significantly reduced project requests? Encouraging your administrative staff to take vacation time or reduced hours during these periods can also help you save on unnecessary on-site office expenses. 5. Identify Staff That Can Work From Home Offering optional remote work is also a popular way to cut down on office staff management's cost. The more team members work from home, the less your company will have to invest in office space. They will also have the added benefit of being able to telecommute some days and avoid driving. In some cases, you may be able to significantly cut down on the office space you need. This will decrease rent spending and reduce associated costs — like maintenance, lighting and environmental control. Most construction companies don't have strong WFH experience, and there may be an institutional learning curve to offering remote work options at your company. However, you'll be in good company if you make the switch. How Modern Construction Companies Can Keep Costs LowThese techniques are some of the best ways to cut down on costs on the modern construction site. Simple adjustments to workflows and purchasing processes can go a long way in helping your company reduce labor, equipment and maintenance prices. Author Bio: Rose Morrison is a freelance writer who covers construction and building design topics. She is also the managing editor for Renovated. Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully? 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.
Visit to read more. The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon.  Disasters waiting to happen: 5 major infrastructure projects in need of repair From aging dams and deteriorating tunnels to deficient bridges and lead-filled drinking water lines, the U.S. has plenty of work to do when it comes to the quality of its infrastructure. Read more ➔ Fixing construction's racism problem will take an industrywide effort To eradicate bigotry on jobsites, the first step is to acknowledge it exists, industry leaders say. Zero-tolerance policies, bystander intervention and a 'racism rating' are some of their other ideas. Read more  Racism on the jobsite: How hate erodes construction's bottom line Industry leaders say that eliminating racist actions and attitudes in construction is the right thing to do. Here are five other reasons. Read more  Image by F. Muhammad from Pixabay Report: Nearly half of America's deadliest jobs are in construction
Report: Highest-paying construction jobs that don't require a college degree
Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully? 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.
Visit to read more. The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon.  Image by Markus Distelrath from Pixabay Often construction projects are completed late and many contractors blame poor weather. Sure, inclement weather does delay projects, but can contractors mitigate the impact of the poor weather, or even avoid the worst impacts? Are contractors completely blameless when it comes to weather events? Now, I’m not talking about severe weather events like hurricanes, floods and tornedoes, which no amount of preparation can protect construction projects from, rather I’m talking about the normal seasonal weather. Should contractors have allowed for the normal rains, heat and cold that could impact their project before it’s completed? Contractors are an eternally optimistic bunch and never seem to allow for any weather-related impacts on their construction projects. But, is it reasonable to expect to work on a twelve-month long project and think you won’t encounter rain, winds, summer, and winter, at some stage in the course of your project? Contractors often put the blame on clients for their unreasonable project schedules and say it’s impossible to allow additional time for delays caused by rain – rain which is average and will almost certainly occur! Well that’s professional suicide if you knowingly accept a project construction schedule which doesn’t allow for the normal expected weather conditions which can be expected at that time and in that location. But some contractors make their life even harder by not taking even basic precautions to avoid weather delays. Is it possible to avoid, or mitigate, the impacts of some of the poor weather?  Image by Bruno Germany from Pixabay Minimising weather disruptions on your construction project There are several measures contractors can take to mitigate delays caused by poor weather. Some of these should be implemented when pricing the project, others when preparing the construction schedule, and of course many measures need to be implemented and maintained during construction. These include some, or all, of the following:
 Image by toodlingstudio from Pixabay Construction projects will experience poor weather so learn to deal with itWe can almost guarantee that most construction projects will be impacted by inclement weather. In many cases this shouldn’t be an excuse for delays. We can prevent, or at least mitigate, many of the delays by understanding the weather patterns in the area and allowing for these expected weather disruptions in our construction schedule. Proper planning can also mean that weather dependent activities are scheduled for times when better weather is expected. We should also implement mitigating measures to reduce the damage and return the project to full production as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, these days more projects are being interrupted by extreme weather events which couldn’t have been foreseen, and no amount of preparation could have avoided. Contractors shouldn’t be expected to shoulder the responsibility and risks of these extreme weather events, or weather that couldn’t have been reasonably expected on the project. Therefore, contractors should be cautious in accepting project contracts where they could be liable for delays caused by weather events beyond the norm. If the weather risks are too high learn to walk away from the project and don’t price the project. Although it may appear that weather impacts on construction projects are in the hands of the Gods, contractors still have some control over the damages they suffer and they are sometimes not entirely blameless for delays caused by poor weather. How has poor weather impacted your project? This article was first published on the ClockShark website. For construction and field service companies who want to get rid of paper time sheets, ClockShark is the GPS time tracking app that's both powerful and easy to use. Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully? 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.
Visit to read more. The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon. © 2019 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.  It’s important for construction companies to build good relationships with their customers. Unfortunately many construction projects end in an adversarial position. It becomes ‘them and us’. Contractors view the client as out to get them, and customers often view contractors as a bunch of crooks. Yet, I’ve had many long successful relationships with some clients. They weren’t always happy with us, and nor were we always happy with them. We had our disagreements and arguments, but in most cases the construction project was finished well, issues were sorted amicably, and seldom did one party feel aggrieved. In fact in many cases we constructed further projects for the same customer – sometimes, even becoming their contractor of choice. Why it’s important for contractors to develop good customer relationsHaving a good relationship with customers often means the customer favours the contractor for their next project, sometimes even directly negotiating new projects with them, or even awarding projects to the contractor when their price isn’t the lowest. The customer is prepared to pay a premium to work with a contractor that they know they can trust and rely on to deliver their construction project on time and with good quality. Having a good relationship with a client often means the contractor can obtain the inside track on forthcoming construction projects, enabling them to be one step ahead of competitors. Knowing what the customer is really looking for has enabled us to strategically position our price presentation, ensuring that we answered the customers concerns, that we could demonstrate that we understood what was important to the customer, and we could portray our company as the best for the project. Construction projects are built with a team effort. A team that’s striving for one common goal to complete the project successfully. Projects are built on trust, with the client and the contractor helping each other and not out to trip each other up. Having a good relationship means the contractor understand the customer’s needs and focusses on delivering a project that fulfils these needs. It enables the contractor to put the right people on the project. Having a good relationship means that the contractor and the customer can talk through problems, present their concerns, and develop solutions. Issues can be resolved without resorting to lawyers because there’s already empathy and respect for the other party. A good relationship means that there’s open and honest dialogue. Good relationships reduce conflict. Good relations help resolve problems. How do we develop relationships with our clients in construction? Building good relationships depends on individuals, yet it’s also a team effort. A good relationship between a client and contractor can quickly be destroyed by one individual – perhaps the contractor’s project manager who has an argument with the client, possibly is rude, or lodges spurious claims. Good relationships are built on trust and honesty. They survive on delivering quality projects on time. Good relationships are built by talking, by working through problems, and most importantly by being sensitive to customers and their needs. Of course good relationships are a two-way street, and both the customer and the contractor have to build the relationship. Egos and personal gain destroy relationships. Even the best working relationships have to be worked on, so contractors should stay in contact with their past customers. Today many have a frenetic and busy life and past good relationships can be forgotten at the end of the project. It’s important to keep contact with customers, give a call, or even pop in for a coffee. What shouldn’t destroy relationships |
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Wild horses shelter under the empty $12 million aged care facility in WA's Warmun.(ABC Kimberley: Rebecca Nadge
White elephant projects. Budgets need to allow more than just money for construction. Projects must be staffed, operated, and maintained. Governments are good at building white elephant projects.
Read my book 'Construction Management from Project Concept to Completion' to learn more about project managing your project to success.
Government are now in a rush to spend money on new construction projects in an attempt to create jobs and stimulate economies after covid 19. Have these been well thought through? Are they the best use of tax payer funds? Will there be long term benefits or will the next generation be paying for wasted expenditure? How many white elephants will be created - unused infrastructure and empty apartments?
See this article on white elephant projects. Read
Read my book 'Construction Management from Project Concept to Completion' to learn more about project managing your project to success.
Government are now in a rush to spend money on new construction projects in an attempt to create jobs and stimulate economies after covid 19. Have these been well thought through? Are they the best use of tax payer funds? Will there be long term benefits or will the next generation be paying for wasted expenditure? How many white elephants will be created - unused infrastructure and empty apartments?
See this article on white elephant projects. Read
Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully?
Many construction projects are doomed to fail long before construction even begins. They are the wrong project, built in the wrong place at the wrong time. The design is inadequate, the budget is wrong, a poor team is selected, and investigations are incomplete. At any stage your project can go wrong if it’s not managed correctly! But, good project management and planning will make your project a success.
Construction Management from Project Concept to Completion provides tips and insights for clients and client side project managers so that you can ensure your project is a success
Construction Management from Project Concept to Completion provides tips and insights for clients and client side project managers so that you can ensure your project is a success
Image courtesy of arztsamui at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Construction is hard work and often involves long hours at work, sometimes lengthy commutes, and some projects even require that we spend nights away from home. We may leave home in the dark and return when after sundown. Often the kids are already tucked up in bed when we get home, or certainly, we’ve missed dinner with the family.
It’s important that everyone gets time off, time to escape from work, time to enjoy with our families. Many of us think that we’re indispensable to the project and company, but if you organise things properly there’s no reason you can’t escape the project for a few days. Anyway, after a few days away from work you’ll come back refreshed, recharged and more productive (especially if you limit, or even eliminate, emails and telephone calls while you’re away).
Not having time off will lead to health problems and it could result in family quarrels, problems at home and family unhappiness. This will impact your work, leading to lower productivity and even safety issues when you’re distracted by these problems. Regrettably, the construction industry has one of the highest rates of marriage breakups, mental health problems, stress-related illnesses, and suicides.
Of course, your team also requires time off work. They also need time with their families. They need a rest. But this must be managed so that nobody abuses the system, frequently taking time off and disrupting the progress of the project.
It’s important that everyone gets time off, time to escape from work, time to enjoy with our families. Many of us think that we’re indispensable to the project and company, but if you organise things properly there’s no reason you can’t escape the project for a few days. Anyway, after a few days away from work you’ll come back refreshed, recharged and more productive (especially if you limit, or even eliminate, emails and telephone calls while you’re away).
Not having time off will lead to health problems and it could result in family quarrels, problems at home and family unhappiness. This will impact your work, leading to lower productivity and even safety issues when you’re distracted by these problems. Regrettably, the construction industry has one of the highest rates of marriage breakups, mental health problems, stress-related illnesses, and suicides.
Of course, your team also requires time off work. They also need time with their families. They need a rest. But this must be managed so that nobody abuses the system, frequently taking time off and disrupting the progress of the project.
When to take time off in a construction project
Time off for illness
Ill health can strike even the healthiest of us. This may simply be a cold or flu. Unfortunately, some are more prone to ill health than others.
Some illnesses are contagious, so having somebody coughing and sneezing their way around the office is sure to make others sick. It doesn’t take long for there to be a mini-epidemic on the project and suddenly there are half a dozen absent from work. If you’re sick, stay at home.
People who are ill are often on medication. Some medications can make you drowsy, and you certainly don’t want to be sleepwalking around the project – there will be an accident. Certain drugs can impair vision or slow reflexes, which could lead to accidents.
But as you know, when you’re feeling ill you’re not exactly enthusiastic about work, you’re tired and feeling horrible, so your productivity is reduced. Things take longer to get done. You make mistakes. Just how effective are you at work when you’re sick?
How effective is a sick person in your crew?
Stay at home when you’re sick. If somebody in the crew is sick they should rather stay at home.
Failing to take proper rest while you’re sick often means that you take longer to recuperate. But, worse, if you’re not careful the infection could spread through your body. Your simple dose of flu could spread to your chest and suddenly you have pneumonia, which will send you to the hospital, and in the worst case even kill you.
We like to think that we’re tough and we act the martyr and soldier on at work, no matter how sick we are. But, is this really fair to our fellow workers who could catch our infection? Is this a wise course of action, or a folly that could risk our lives and the lives of others around us.
A few days off work to recuperate from an illness may be just what you need to get better. The project won’t collapse without you, but it could be severely jeopardised if your condition worsens and you end up in hospital missing weeks of work.
Sometimes we have health problems that we suffer through and don’t get treated. We should go for an operation, see a doctor, or get special treatment. The cost of these treatments is the primary reason that we avoid getting the problem sorted. Then there’s the time away from work and usually the fear of doctors and hospitals which makes us stall the treatment.
So we live with the pain of a bad knee, the inconvenience of an eye problem, the discomfort of a small ulcer, or whatever. Of course, the problem isn’t going to fix itself and it’s only going to become worse and a bigger problem to treat. Get the problem sorted before it gets worse and is more difficult and more expensive to fix.
Time off for compassionate and family leave
From time to time, unfortunately, there are family health problems. Your mother, father, partner or kids could suddenly be taken ill, or need to be taken to the doctor. Are you going to be there to support them when you’re needed at home? Sure you can’t take time off work for every visit to the dentist or doctor, but serious family illness and emergencies will need your help. In an emergency, your partner will require support and comforting.
Ill health can strike even the healthiest of us. This may simply be a cold or flu. Unfortunately, some are more prone to ill health than others.
Some illnesses are contagious, so having somebody coughing and sneezing their way around the office is sure to make others sick. It doesn’t take long for there to be a mini-epidemic on the project and suddenly there are half a dozen absent from work. If you’re sick, stay at home.
People who are ill are often on medication. Some medications can make you drowsy, and you certainly don’t want to be sleepwalking around the project – there will be an accident. Certain drugs can impair vision or slow reflexes, which could lead to accidents.
But as you know, when you’re feeling ill you’re not exactly enthusiastic about work, you’re tired and feeling horrible, so your productivity is reduced. Things take longer to get done. You make mistakes. Just how effective are you at work when you’re sick?
How effective is a sick person in your crew?
Stay at home when you’re sick. If somebody in the crew is sick they should rather stay at home.
Failing to take proper rest while you’re sick often means that you take longer to recuperate. But, worse, if you’re not careful the infection could spread through your body. Your simple dose of flu could spread to your chest and suddenly you have pneumonia, which will send you to the hospital, and in the worst case even kill you.
We like to think that we’re tough and we act the martyr and soldier on at work, no matter how sick we are. But, is this really fair to our fellow workers who could catch our infection? Is this a wise course of action, or a folly that could risk our lives and the lives of others around us.
A few days off work to recuperate from an illness may be just what you need to get better. The project won’t collapse without you, but it could be severely jeopardised if your condition worsens and you end up in hospital missing weeks of work.
Sometimes we have health problems that we suffer through and don’t get treated. We should go for an operation, see a doctor, or get special treatment. The cost of these treatments is the primary reason that we avoid getting the problem sorted. Then there’s the time away from work and usually the fear of doctors and hospitals which makes us stall the treatment.
So we live with the pain of a bad knee, the inconvenience of an eye problem, the discomfort of a small ulcer, or whatever. Of course, the problem isn’t going to fix itself and it’s only going to become worse and a bigger problem to treat. Get the problem sorted before it gets worse and is more difficult and more expensive to fix.
Time off for compassionate and family leave
From time to time, unfortunately, there are family health problems. Your mother, father, partner or kids could suddenly be taken ill, or need to be taken to the doctor. Are you going to be there to support them when you’re needed at home? Sure you can’t take time off work for every visit to the dentist or doctor, but serious family illness and emergencies will need your help. In an emergency, your partner will require support and comforting.
Conclusion
Most companies have policies regarding when you can take time off, how many days you can take off, and whether the time is paid or not. Paid sick leave may be limited to a specified number of days in the year. If it’s not used in the year it’s usually forfeited. If you’ve used all the paid sick days you’re entitled to, it doesn’t mean that you can’t take time off when you’re sick, it only means that these extra days won’t be paid. Of course, most companies usually demand to see proof that you were actually sick.
Companies allocate a number of paid vacation days. Usually, these days can be accumulated to the next year if they’re not used. But, that really defeats the object of vacation days, which are days to rest and days to spend time with your family. Maybe consider taking a vacation day next time your kid has a birthday or plays in a big game.
Do you know how many vacation days are due to you? The one thing I always did was take all the vacation days due to me, and even additional unpaid vacation time. My vacation was always important to me and I made sure I spent it far from work – yet none of my projects suffered.
Of course never be the Grinch that refuses your employees time off, or who forces them to come to work even when they’re really sick.
When did you last have a vacation? Have you recently spent quality time with your family?
Companies allocate a number of paid vacation days. Usually, these days can be accumulated to the next year if they’re not used. But, that really defeats the object of vacation days, which are days to rest and days to spend time with your family. Maybe consider taking a vacation day next time your kid has a birthday or plays in a big game.
Do you know how many vacation days are due to you? The one thing I always did was take all the vacation days due to me, and even additional unpaid vacation time. My vacation was always important to me and I made sure I spent it far from work – yet none of my projects suffered.
Of course never be the Grinch that refuses your employees time off, or who forces them to come to work even when they’re really sick.
When did you last have a vacation? Have you recently spent quality time with your family?
This article was first published on the ClockShark website.
For construction and field service companies who want to get rid of paper time sheets, ClockShark is the GPS time tracking app that's both powerful and easy to use.
For construction and field service companies who want to get rid of paper time sheets, ClockShark is the GPS time tracking app that's both powerful and easy to use.
Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully?
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.
© 2019 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.
The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon.
© 2019 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.
Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay
The construction industry is desperate for good experienced people. The situation for many contractors is exacerbated when skilled workers leave the company.
Employee turnover and the fight to retain skilled people in construction
People will always leave construction companies and projects, but some construction projects and contractors experience a higher number of employees resign than other construction companies. It’s easy to be dismissive about people resigning, taking the attitude that if they want to go then they must go.
Indeed, we also don’t want to be paying people excessively high wages or promising them extra perks to stay, because this often only works with mercenaries who are only after money and have little company loyalty anyway. But, the high employee turnover is disruptive and costly. It’s said that employing a new person can cost between a month and six months wages, depending on their skill level and how easily the person can get onto the project.
Indeed, we also don’t want to be paying people excessively high wages or promising them extra perks to stay, because this often only works with mercenaries who are only after money and have little company loyalty anyway. But, the high employee turnover is disruptive and costly. It’s said that employing a new person can cost between a month and six months wages, depending on their skill level and how easily the person can get onto the project.
How much does employee turnover cost construction projects and contractors?
When a person leaves a construction project there’s normally a hole left behind, which usually results in less work being done. If the person has a key skill such as being a crane operator it could mean that the rest of the team can’t work effectively. Senior management and supervisors often leave a knowledge gap when they go, and frequently new individuals have to establish relationships with the client, suppliers, subcontractors, and the work crews, all resulting in disruptions and additional costs to the project.
Employing a new person entails additional costs such as the costs to recruit them, which could include advertising for the job, employing a recruitment agency, time to interview the person, and then the administration costs to complete all the paperwork. Then there are often costs for medicals and inductions. Probably the cost of company uniforms and personal protective equipment and the person usually has to be paid while they attend inductions and company training. Finally, the person can start work on the project, where they often take a week or more to learn what to do, what the project rules are and where they fit in.
When a person leaves their workload usually has to be taken up by others in the team until a replacement arrives. This results in additional stress and pressures which could lead to mistakes, shortcuts, poor quality, and even others within the team deciding the added pressure is too much and they also leave.
Obviously replacing someone who is useless, or is a troublemaker, or who don’t have the required skills is beneficial to the project.
Employing a new person entails additional costs such as the costs to recruit them, which could include advertising for the job, employing a recruitment agency, time to interview the person, and then the administration costs to complete all the paperwork. Then there are often costs for medicals and inductions. Probably the cost of company uniforms and personal protective equipment and the person usually has to be paid while they attend inductions and company training. Finally, the person can start work on the project, where they often take a week or more to learn what to do, what the project rules are and where they fit in.
When a person leaves their workload usually has to be taken up by others in the team until a replacement arrives. This results in additional stress and pressures which could lead to mistakes, shortcuts, poor quality, and even others within the team deciding the added pressure is too much and they also leave.
Obviously replacing someone who is useless, or is a troublemaker, or who don’t have the required skills is beneficial to the project.
Why are people leaving your company?
Often people leave a company or construction project because they aren’t happy. Usually, the good people leave first – the ones that can easily find a job elsewhere. When one person moves to join another contractor they may induce others to follow. If a number of people resign then others will start to consider their position, wondering why everyone is leaving and thinking that maybe they should also move on.
It’s therefore important to understand why people are resigning, then where possible put in measures to reduce the likelihood of more people leaving. People could be moving because of an abusive manager. People leave bad managers and supervisors. They may leave companies where they feel they aren’t being respected. Maybe they aren’t receiving a fair wage. Perhaps they don’t have the right tools or equipment, or the equipment keeps breaking. Possibly the working conditions are unsafe, or they have to work long hours, or away from their families. Sometimes employees are ‘poached’ by other companies, induced to work there with promises of promotion or better pay.
Talking to the person resigning may help dissuade them from going. Some employees move because they think that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, but maybe they don’t fully understand the benefits of staying and the downside of leaving and working for another contractor. But, even not being able to dissuade them, it may be possible to improve conditions for those remaining so that they are less likely to leave the company for the same reasons.
Of course, good managers who understand and talk to their team will usually hear of problems and resolve them early before they’re a cause for unhappiness and people leaving the company.
It’s therefore important to understand why people are resigning, then where possible put in measures to reduce the likelihood of more people leaving. People could be moving because of an abusive manager. People leave bad managers and supervisors. They may leave companies where they feel they aren’t being respected. Maybe they aren’t receiving a fair wage. Perhaps they don’t have the right tools or equipment, or the equipment keeps breaking. Possibly the working conditions are unsafe, or they have to work long hours, or away from their families. Sometimes employees are ‘poached’ by other companies, induced to work there with promises of promotion or better pay.
Talking to the person resigning may help dissuade them from going. Some employees move because they think that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, but maybe they don’t fully understand the benefits of staying and the downside of leaving and working for another contractor. But, even not being able to dissuade them, it may be possible to improve conditions for those remaining so that they are less likely to leave the company for the same reasons.
Of course, good managers who understand and talk to their team will usually hear of problems and resolve them early before they’re a cause for unhappiness and people leaving the company.
Conclusion – keeping good people is essential for contractors
Image by s m anamul rezwan from Pixabay Construction companies need good people with the right skills. Contractors cannot afford to lose good people. However, it’s often not possible to retain good people at any cost when they want to go. There will always be contractors prepared to pay skilled good workers more than you can afford. Rather create loyalty in your teams by being fair and consistent, by treating people right, by providing opportunities for training and growth, by paying them fairly, by promptly dealing with their concerns, by giving them the right equipment and by clear and honest communication. Good managers will attract and retain good workers.
Do you have a loyal team?
How do you retain your good people?
Do you have a loyal team?
How do you retain your good people?
This article was first published on the ClockShark website.
For construction and field service companies who want to get rid of paper time sheets, ClockShark is the GPS time tracking app that's both powerful and easy to use.
For construction and field service companies who want to get rid of paper time sheets, ClockShark is the GPS time tracking app that's both powerful and easy to use.
Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully?
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.
© 2019 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.
The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon.
© 2019 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.
In our last article we discussed actions to take if your construction project is losing money. Read: Is Your Construction Project Losing Money?
In this article I some of the causes which result in construction projects losing money. These include:
# Poor productivity due to:
•Poor supervision.
•Low worker morale.
•Incorrect resources on the project - the wrong type or too few os some and too many of others.
•Production bottlenecks.
# Theft:
•Direct theft on the project.
•Suppliers and subcontractors claiming for stuff they did not deliver or work they have not done.
.Suppliers short delivering.
# Material wastage due to:
•Breakages from poor handling and installation.
•Storing materials incorrectly.
•Large quantities of off-cuts.
•Over ordering materials.
•Applying materials thicker than they should be.
# Ordering items that are the wrong specification.
# Non performance of suppliers or subcontractors.
# The project not completed on time.
# Poor quality work.
# Not invoicing the client for work done.
# Over payments of subcontractors and suppliers:
•Paying invoices twice.
•Forgetting to deduct discounts or previous payments.
# Not claiming variations and delays that you are entitled to claim, such as:
•Additional work.
•Change in specifications.
•Delays and disruptions.
.Client not fulfilling their obligations.
# A poor price estimate due to errors, not understanding project site conditions, wrong rates, not understanding the contract.
In this article I some of the causes which result in construction projects losing money. These include:
# Poor productivity due to:
•Poor supervision.
•Low worker morale.
•Incorrect resources on the project - the wrong type or too few os some and too many of others.
•Production bottlenecks.
# Theft:
•Direct theft on the project.
•Suppliers and subcontractors claiming for stuff they did not deliver or work they have not done.
.Suppliers short delivering.
# Material wastage due to:
•Breakages from poor handling and installation.
•Storing materials incorrectly.
•Large quantities of off-cuts.
•Over ordering materials.
•Applying materials thicker than they should be.
# Ordering items that are the wrong specification.
# Non performance of suppliers or subcontractors.
# The project not completed on time.
# Poor quality work.
# Not invoicing the client for work done.
# Over payments of subcontractors and suppliers:
•Paying invoices twice.
•Forgetting to deduct discounts or previous payments.
# Not claiming variations and delays that you are entitled to claim, such as:
•Additional work.
•Change in specifications.
•Delays and disruptions.
.Client not fulfilling their obligations.
# A poor price estimate due to errors, not understanding project site conditions, wrong rates, not understanding the contract.
Ensure your construction project does not lose money
Contractors regularly lose money on their construction projects. This could lead to the contractor going bankrupt. Nobody likes to do work for free or lose money on projects. Simple checks and sound project management can eliminate many of the causes of project losses.
Of course it is important to have systems in place - project cost reports which are accurate - which give an early warning to project managers when their construction project is in trouble.
Knowing immediately that the construction project is losing money enables the project manager to take early action to prevent further losses and possibly even recover some of the lost money.
It is important to identify the real reason for project losses and not leap to the wrong conclusion and blame others - like the estimator - for the loss.
Of course it is important to have systems in place - project cost reports which are accurate - which give an early warning to project managers when their construction project is in trouble.
Knowing immediately that the construction project is losing money enables the project manager to take early action to prevent further losses and possibly even recover some of the lost money.
It is important to identify the real reason for project losses and not leap to the wrong conclusion and blame others - like the estimator - for the loss.
Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully?
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.
© 2020 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.
The books are available in paper and ebook from most online stores including Amazon.
© 2020 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
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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.
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.
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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
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