 Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay As you prepare for the Labor Day long weekend pause to reflect on the meaning of this holiday. The origins of Labor Day are often overshadowed by the sales and discounts offered by many retailers this weekend, by the start of a new sports season, a new school year, and the prospect of the end of summer and a final opportunity for a summer family picnic. This year is different with Covid-19 damaging the health and economies of vast swathes of the community, raising many new concerns, including the safety of children returning to school and the many uncertainties for the future. Many of your workers will have been impacted by the virus, as I’m sure most companies have been impacted by the economic and human cost. Labor Day is meant as a time to commemorate the contribution of workers, and we should pause to consider their contribution to building the country, and importantly their vital contribution to continue building the country.  Image by Mustafa shehadeh from Pixabay Where would our construction projects be without the hard work of construction workers, who often work long hours in difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions. A successful construction company is built on the team effort and hard work of both management and workers. The success of our construction projects depends on our craftspeople and workers. Take this opportunity to say thank you to your construction team. Maybe consider a small celebration on your construction project to mark the holiday and thank your crew. I’m sure the summer has been rushed trying to get construction projects finished in between the pandemic. So now may be a good time to pause and step back and review your construction crew. Is it time to reward some with a promotion or small pay increase? How about seeing who would benefit from extra training? Who has put in the extra effort? Who has helped get your projects over the line? Who should be rewarded, who needs help, and who needs to improve? Providing constructive feedback to your construction team and workers will pay dividends. If you’ve been office bound for the last few months now is a good time to get out onto the construction project site and engage with your construction crews. Your crew will appreciate a thank you for their efforts. They will be appreciative of rewards for their efforts. They’ll return refreshed from their long weekend and invigorated by your thanks, so that your construction project can make the most of the good autumn weather. Before you know it Thanksgiving and winter will arrive. Regrettably some construction projects may be behind schedule and there’s the temptation to make construction crews work through the holidays to make up the lost time. Don’t be the grinch that stole Labor Day from your construction team, that took away the opportunity for your crew to rest and spend time with their family. Of course equally, don’t steal Labor Day from your family. Don’t take work home. Your family wants to spend time with you before their school or college year ramps up into a flurry of sport, study and socialising. Make time for your family and enjoy the weekend wherever you are and whatever you do. Don’t let work spoil the holiday. Everyone needs a break from work. You’ll be more refreshed to face the rest of 2020 if you take time off this weekend. Let’s pause and consider the reason we celebrate Labor Day. It’s a celebration of everyone who worked hard to build the country. It’s a celebration of all who work hard everyday to make our construction projects successful. Say thanks to them. Happy Labor Day. How will you celebrate Labor Day with your team? What are your plans for the Labor Day weekend? 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.
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 Isn’t it annoying when you’re working on a construction project and you run out of materials before the task is completed? You’re sure you ordered enough material to complete the work! Why isn’t there enough material? Did someone steal it? Well perhaps they did – but there could be several reasons why there’re insufficient materials for the task. Sometimes the construction materials needed can be quickly gotten from the nearby store, but even so work is interrupted, possibly the construction team stands idle while the material is fetched, or the workers must be reorganised to do other construction work in the meantime. Unfortunately, in some cases the material isn’t readily available, and it could take several days to get the missing items to the project. Inevitably there are additional costs and delays which could jeopardise the success of the construction project. Why do projects experience construction material shortages?There are many reasons for construction material shortages and proper care should help avoid this from occurring.
 Image by Paul Brennan from Pixabay
Have the right quantity of materials on your construction projectIt’s worth spending extra time to ensure you order the correct quantities of construction materials. Where necessary ask for expert advice to determine the normal wastage factors of a particular product. Look at different options for cutting and installing the materials, as well as the various sizes the products are available in. Careful planning and ordering of construction materials can reduce costs. Of course, always ensure that those installing the products understand how they should be installed to minimise waste and so that they don’t undo your careful planning. This could avoid costly and embarrassing mistakes. Investigate shortages before ordering additional construction material. The missing items may be lying unnoticed somewhere on the project, or the supplier might not have delivered the material yet. Regrettably sometimes construction project managers order additional materials to make good shortfalls, only to discover that the missing materials were found or were delivered later – resulting in there being too much material. Of course, always check the construction drawings because a shortfall of material may be because of drawing errors which resulted in more material being used than was allowed for. Importantly, keep a constant check on the available construction materials and act when it appears that there may be insufficient materials. Take timely action to ensure that your construction team is not left waiting for more materials. Have you run short of materials on your construction project? What was the reason? 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.
Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully?Paul Netscher is the author of several construction management books, including ‘Successful Construction Project Management: The Practical Guide’ a hands-on guide for contractors, ‘Construction Management from Project Concept to Completion’ a valuable guide for employer/client-side project managers, and ‘Construction Claims: A Short Guide for Contractors’.
 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 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  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. When to take time off in a construction projectTime 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. ConclusionMost 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? 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.
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 constructionPeople 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. 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. 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. 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? 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.
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. Ensure your construction project does not lose moneyContractors 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. 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.  Your project is losing money. Do you know why? Do you blame the estimator? Do you blame your crew? Do you blame the weather? Do you hide the losses from your manager? Do you shout and threaten those working for you? Do you hope things will improve? Do you run away? Do you look for the real reasons? When a project is losing money it is important to:
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.  Image courtesy of xedos4 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Is your construction company busy? Do you have enough work to keep all your construction crews busy? These are challenging times with Covid-19 impacting most countries and disrupting people's lives and livelihoods. The construction industry faces a number of challengers, including a possible decrease in growth which will increase competition making it harder for contractors to find work. How can you improve the chance of your company finding and winning new construction projects? How will your construction company get through these troubled and disrupted times? Whether you are a construction company owner, a project manager, supervisor, craftsman, or even a general worker, these are scary times, and the thought of losing your company or your job is probably keeping many of you awake at night. It is up to everyone to keep your construction company busy. And yes, you can all make a difference as we will discuss below! Who is responsible for finding new construction projects for contractors?Now many think the responsibility of finding the next construction project for the company lies with senior management. But, it’s everyone’s responsibility. Contractors with a good reputation are more likely to win new construction projects than contractors with a poor reputation. Good reputations are created by producing quality projects safely, on time and with minimal fuss to the client. A good reputation is created by working well with clients, solving problems, being proactive and being a pleasure to work with. It’s the responsibility of everyone in the company to create this reputation. It only takes one poor worker to destroy a contractor’s good reputation with their bad work and attitude. But of course winning new projects usually also requires your company to submit the cheapest price, or certainly a price which is competitive. How do contractors calculate the price of their work. Well usually it’s based on past experience. How productive were the crews on the last projects? How much material was wasted on the previous projects? How much did everything cost on the completed projects? So if construction crews worked efficiently on the last project then the costs on the project are lower, meaning that the price submitted for the next project is lower, which means that the contractor has more chance of winning the project. But if crews worked inefficiently on projects then the project costs increase, and if these same costs and productivities are used when the next construction project is priced it will inevitably drive the price of the project up and the contractor has less chance of their price being lower than the competitors’ prices. This jeopardises the contractor’s chance of winning further work. So it’s vital that everyone is productive and that materials aren’t wasted so that project costs are minimised. Not only will this ensure that the contractor is profitable but it will mean that the company wins more projects. But finding work is more than this. It’s about knowing which clients have new construction work coming soon. Knowing this enables management to visit that client, to sell the company’s capabilities to the client, to ensure that the company has the opportunity to price the project. Who gets to hear of these upcoming projects? Well anyone and everyone. Those working on construction projects are at the coal face and get to talk to subcontractors, suppliers and the client’s team. Anyone of these could know of prospective clients and upcoming projects. You and your team have friends and relatives in the industry. Everyone has connections. These connections could lead your company to their next project. So next time you’re at a family gathering, or chatting to friends over a beer, listen out for potential new construction works. Always be on the lookout for new projects and give the details to your manager to follow up. Advertising your construction companyConstruction companies usually also require clients to find them. Clients may see an advertisement, a website, or drive past a project that the contractor is working on. Maybe that construction project is your project. Is your project a good advertisement for your company. When a prospective client walks past your construction project what do they see? Do they see an organised and clean worksite that looks professional? Of course it doesn’t help if the project looks good but there isn’t a company advertising signboard or contact details of how they can contact your company. Remember to, prospective clients might not be looking for a contractor right now. They might have a project ready to price in six months or a year. Will they remember your company then. Well if your project was neat, tidy and professional and had clear bold signs with the company name, then they’ll probably remember your company and ask your company to price their project. What makes your construction project stand out? Well as I said, it should be neat and orderly, so no litter in the streets, clear signage and barricading, minimal disruption to the public. A big signboard that’s placed straight and level with the company name. Neat fencing or hoarding. The site should look safe, so barricading on the edges of elevated slabs is essential. But even your people are an advertisement for the company. Unfortunately they can also be a negative advertisement, harming the company’s image. If your workers clog the roads, fill the local lunch bars and shops, cussing and pushing, disrupting the general public, then people will get upset. Maybe one of those upset people is a prospective client who will remember your company for the wrong reasons, making sure they don’t ask your company to price their next construction project. Do you say good things about your company, or are you whinging and criticising management? Who is listening to you saying bad things or perhaps even telling people how your company is ripping off their clients? Possibly one of those in earshot is a prospective customer who will now give their project to another contractor. What are people in your team saying about the company? Is it a good place to work? Are they proud of the company? Are they portraying an image of a professional construction company? What are they saying about their supervisor and about company management – hopefully good things? Does your team have a company uniform with the company logo? Do they look professional? Or are they a ragtag bunch in a mismatch of torn and dirty clothing? Company equipment and vehicles are an excellent form of advertising – they are mobile billboards. Or are they? Well if the truck is bashed and scraped and dirty, what image does that portray of your company? If the driver of the vehicle is rude and operates the vehicle dangerously, or breaks the road rules, what does that say about your company? How many potential clients are your company vehicles offending? But, clean and new equipment with bold company logos are a good advertisement for your company. I’ve had clients compliment us on our shiny new equipment. Regrettably, I’ve also been criticised for items that continually broke on a project. Clients want to know that equipment working on their projects will be reliable and safe. Social media and construction companiesSocial media can be powerful. It can sell a positive brand or portray a negative image. Almost everyone operates a social media account such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc. The images and stories posted online often spread rapidly. Consequently, posting negative reports and pictures may be seen by both potential clients and prospective employees. While positive reports, ones that portray a good image of the company, a company with good people, impressive projects, good quality, new equipment, that takes pride in their work, that has good clients, and a company that looks after its people, will be attractive to both prospective employees and clients. There will be bad days when the company equipment broke, when your boss was annoying, or when head office personnel let you down. It’s easy to become annoyed with your company and fire off negative comments about the company. But, this can have consequences for the company which may impact your future. Be proud of the company you work for. You are part of a team. Tell everyone what a great company you work for and not only will the word get to prospective clients, but others will want to come work for the company. Good companies and good managers attract good people. Every construction company is desperate to attract the best skilled people. Good people make your job easier. Everyone must work together to secure the next construction projectContractors need a continuous supply of construction projects to keep their crews and equipment busy and to pay their overhead costs. Securing the next project cannot be left entirely to the estimators and senior management. In fact, even their best efforts could be for nought if some individuals damage the company’s reputation, or if the project crews are wasteful and unproductive driving up project costs. Securing the next project and continuing work is a team effort and it requires the cooperation of everyone. Everyone needs to be promoting the company and looking out for the next construction project. Securing the next construction project is vital to the survival of the company and it will help provide continued employment for many in the crew. Are you helping your company find and win their next construction project? Every employee is responsible for the success of their company. 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.
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.  Outside the construction industry, almost every business sector uses reliable data for decision making and has thus achieved higher quality and efficiency. Sure, the life cycle of a building, with all the people involved around it, is enormously complex. But we have finally arrived at the third decade of the 21st century and it's on us to move our industry towards digitalisation. To gain advantage from new technologies, we have to say goodbye to analogue processes and old-school tools. The good news is that the building industry has already taken the first steps towards this big revolution with Building Information Modelling (BIM). What is BIM all aboutIn the past few years, our software tools have evolved from 2D, the pencil on the screen, to a widely used 3D/BIM landscape. However, the most important thing when we talk about BIM, the process and cultural change, has been neglected for many years. But now, the misconception that BIM is the evolution of CAD has largely been dispelled, and the path of revolution in the construction industry towards collaboration and transparency is unstoppable. Companies across the industry are throwing old processes, business cases, contract models and silo mentality out the window to enter a new era of buildings, the era of BIM. BIM (Building Information Modelling) But what makes BIM so groundbreaking? Let me explain where we at bimspot see the enormous potential and how we understand BIM. In order to gain a broader perspective, let's first reduce Building Information Modelling to its three initial letters. The "I" of BIM The "I" for information is the core concept of BIM, but is also the biggest problem area of CAD. The concept itself is tremendously different and that's why we should not see BIM as an evolution of CAD. Rather, it is a 180° change in the way of thinking about buildings. During a building’s life cycle, a large amount of various kinds of information accumulates, which must be exchanged, evaluated and reused by a high number of stakeholders. All this information, its geometrical nature, physical data or movement data from an already operated building can only be evaluated and validated in the overall context. The usual CAD planning processes cannot provide this overall context, because they are based on separate local systems of all participants and are only exchanged and validated at certain intervals. BIM, on the other hand, takes a completely new approach: all the information is entered in 3-dimensional digital models and constantly shared with all participants via the cloud. This allows a direct insight into the current status of the project, and, in contrast to conventional planning, does not have to be interpreted first, which requires lots of technical knowledge and experience. To sum up, the "I" gives us the possibility to gain a deeper understanding of the current status of the project, to evaluate it in the overall context of the building and to use it directly in your particular use cases. The good news is that there is already a pretty good but also complex data schema, called IFC, out there. IFC enables a software independent exchange of our data. The "M" of BIM However, in order to understand BIM holistically, it is necessary to look at the "M" in two different interpretations. In the classic definition of BIM, the M stands for "modelling", i.e. the process of generating the 3D BIM models. This refers primarily to the planning phase, in which the majority of models are created by planners. If we interpret the "M" for management, a much broader field opens up and explains why BIM managers are indispensable for those projects to ensure a proper and successful venture. We have already defined that BIM is mainly about information that is created in a modelling process. However, in order to generate data in a targeted manner and based on the needs of the project and its participants, a sophisticated management is necessary to activate the well-known potential behind BIM. As part of the process, we can expect highly valid and conceptualised data. This, in turn, will give us the optimal basis for decision making at any given phase of the project, thereby increasing quality and helping us safely reach our goals. These changes in the planning, construction and operation of our buildings bring about a high degree of transparency and thus demand an enormous cultural shift; strictly separated partial services and contracts are to be replaced with joint, highly communicative ways of interdisciplinary cooperation. Each of us who takes part in these processes has dependencies on other involved stakeholders. This transparency and cooperation creates a win-win situation. The "B" of BIM Last but not least, we have to illuminate the "B" around the scope of this method. We are no longer talking about the keywords planning, construction and operation of a building or the medium "drawing" as in CAD. We are always talking about the entire building, regardless of project phases or the phase in the life cycle. Each operation in our buildings therefore refers to the one true data source, the BIM model, the living result of the process behind it.  A holistic approach to BIM We must now give free rein to our creativity as to what applications we can use it for, whether it is precise prefabrication, predictive building maintenance, building evaluations or even just the coordination of building specifications in the planning stage. The holistic view on the digital twin gives us contextualised data with which we can make our decisions based on reliable data, decisions that will affect our buildings and thus all of us. What does BIM mean then? In summary, we can therefore conclude that BIM primarily means a process change triggered by the further development of our planning software. However, by changing the process over the entire life cycle of a building, which BIM requires, we can speak of a revolution. This is more powerful than the change to CAD and enables us to better understand the complex interdependencies in a building and thus increase our quality. Let us continue to develop the exciting field of BIM together and build a better and more sustainable environment. Author: Alexander Grass is a BIM Specialist and Senior Product Manager at bimspot, an open BIM project platform which combines all building information models into a single project environment focusing on the improvement, visualization and accessibility of building information. www.bimspot.io Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully? 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.  Image by Megan Rexazin from Pixabay Why a good reputation is essential for contractorsA construction company’s reputation is important. Contractors often rely on a good reputation to find their next projects. Indeed a poor reputation may preclude a construction company getting a project. If a construction company doesn’t have a good reputation they won’t be invited to price projects. Even when they do have the opportunity to price a project the client might disregard the company’s price, even when it’s the lowest, rather paying more to employ a contractor without a tarnished reputation. A good reputation is essential to procuring additional work.  Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net What should contractors do to develop a good reputationWhat makes a good reputation?
Contractors can easily undo a good reputationA good reputation does not come easily and can take contractors time to build. But good reputations are easily ruined by one poor project or one bad employee. It's essential that the contractor's team understand how important a good reputation is. A successful project with a happy client is an advertisement that will often reap more benefits for a construction company than money spent on advertising. A bad project and a poor reputation can quickly undo all your advertising.  Click on picture to view books on Amazon Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully? 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.
This article is from information in his books, 'The Successful Construction Supervisor and Foreman' and 'Successful Construction Project Management: The Practical Guide'. 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.  Construction projects often go wrong due to poor planning and preparation
Before starting your construction project
Proper planning before starting construction will yield dividendsRushed or poor planning at the start of a construction project often results in problems later in the construction project. Good planning helps reduce costs, avoid mistakes, and even reduces the construction time. Please like, share and comment. This article is from information in the author's book: 'Successful Construction Project Management, The Practical guide'. Find out more about this book 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.  Every construction project generates huge amounts of construction rubbish. The cost of disposing of construction rubbish includes the cost of loading it, transport to the dump, as well as the tip fees. These costs can be huge on the average construction project. In an effort to reduce these costs some contractors resort to dumping the rubbish illegally on vacant lots, which could result in monetary fines and bad publicity, as well as incurring the costs to clean up the mess when they’re reported to the authorities. This is environmentally insensitive – would you want some contractor dumping construction waste in your neighbourhood, would you want your rates and taxes used to clean up someone else’s rubbish? Anyway, some construction waste is dangerous. Asbestos could blow into neighbouring properties, kids could be cut on broken glass and ceramic tiles, and farm animals could choke and die from ingesting plastic, all of which could lead to legal action against the offending contractor. Other contractors choose to bury construction rubbish on the project site. This is also illegal and will upset clients should they uncover the rubble while they’re landscaping their property or building other structures. Indeed they’re entitled to call the offending contractor back to clean up the mess, or they could deduct the clean-up costs from the contractor’s retainage money or their bonds. Some rubbish, such as paints, oils, and asbestos, must be disposed of correctly in special locations. Mixing these materials with the general waste on the project will contaminate all the rubbish, requiring all the material that is now contaminated to be disposed in special locations at additional costs. Construction waste could include packaging from construction materials (including cans, plastic, pallets, timber, strappings and polystyrene), damaged materials which can’t be used, defective work that had to be demolished, broken materials, offcuts, excess materials, materials which were mixed and went hard before they could be used, vegetation which was stripped from the project site, topsoil, unsuitable ground and rock, excess ground from excavations, rubble from existing structures which had to be demolished, as well as the usual trash from workers, such as food wrappers, cans and more.  Avoid costs by reducing construction waste with these 14 tips:
Look around your construction projectAlways designate specific areas for construction rubbish and ensure that papers don’t blow around the site or into neighbours’ properties or block drains. Check that subcontractor clear their construction rubbish. Get everyone on your project onboard to eliminate unnecessary waste. Have a look in your project’s skip waste bins and rubbish piles. You might be shocked at what you see. There could be several hundred dollars of good materials and equipment being thrown away. Consider how you could reduce the amount of waste. How can you save money on your project and improve the environment by managing the waste on your construction project better? How much trash will your project send to the dump? This article was first published on the ClockShark website. Please like, comment and share this post. Click on picture to view books on Amazon Do you want to learn how to manage construction projects successfully?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.  Building Information Modeling is the process by which the AEC industry is accommodating a digital revolution for its different stakeholders. Advancements of BIM services have brought about effective collaboration throughout the entire project lifecycle, leaving behind the traditional communication method for a more improvised and channelled communication online. When we talk about effective project management while a construction project is undertaken, it is BIM technology in current times which is bringing about the effective changes. Some noteworthy aspects to be considered are:
 So with this, we can conclude that the BIM project management solution got every party like managers, designers, contractors etc. under one umbrella by integrating their functionalities bringing about a win-win situation for everyone. Having information sharing an integrated intelligent model arises which facilitates the entire project lifecycle, bringing about the success in the Project Delivery Plan too. About the blog sponsor/Author: ASC Technology Solutions ASC Technology Solutions is a leading BIM outsourcing company in India. They cater to the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Industry. Website URL: www.asctechno.com Please like share or comment 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.  Image by Alessandro Macis from Pixabay Submitting a variation claim is not a dispute. A dispute arises when the contractor and the client cannot agree that the variation claim is legitimate, or they cannot agree the quantum of the claim. Disputes also arises when one of the parties believes that the other party has acted unfairly or they have been prejudiced in some way. Why construction disputes are bad Disputes are bad because:
Avoiding construction disputesTo avoid disputes:
But disputes can be avoided if:
Understand your contract documentWhen disputes are unavoidable the contract document could dictate the procedure to follow. The document will normally also stipulate the country where disputes should be resolved and the law to be followed. Make sure you understand these procedures before declaring a dispute. Litigation under foreign law and in another country can be vary complicated and costly. Want to learn more about construction claims?  "All 120 projects I’ve been involved with included Variation Claims – some for millions of dollars. Some projects doubled in value! Yet, 99% of claims were settled amicably and most of what we claimed was approved. More importantly we completed further projects with these clients.” Paul Netscher.
Construction Claims: A Short Guide for Contractors, written by Paul Netscher is an easy to read simplified guide that gives an overview to construction claims. "An excellent, concise and very practical guide to successful claims process. This is a no nonsense approach that gets on with it. Packed full of valuable advice for both sides - contractor and employer. 'Short' in the title should not be mistaken for lack of valuable content - this is a cracking book. I also have the authors other books which are equally good. Highly recommended." (Reader Amazon UK) ***** "Objective with very clear text, demonstrating full knowledge of the reality during construction's works." (Reader Amazon.com) ***** Covid-19 has disrupted construction project around the World. The go to for many contractors is to lodge a Force Majeure claim for the delays they have suffered. This might not be the best clause to claim your delay under and you could consider the clause of changed legislation where the government or state has shut work sites down. This useful article from Batch Mewing Lawyers Force Majeure In Construction Contracts: Tips And Traps provides more information on Force Majeure and whether your project is entitled to claim for delays caused by Force Majeure. It's vital that you get your delay claim correct. Want to learn more about construction claims? "All 120 projects I’ve been involved with included Variation Claims – some for millions of dollars. Some projects doubled in value! Yet, 99% of claims were settled amicably and most of what we claimed was approved. More importantly we completed further projects with these clients.” Paul Netscher.
Construction Claims: A Short Guide for Contractors, written by Paul Netscher is an easy to read simplified guide that gives an overview to construction claims. "An excellent, concise and very practical guide to successful claims process. This is a no nonsense approach that gets on with it. Packed full of valuable advice for both sides - contractor and employer. 'Short' in the title should not be mistaken for lack of valuable content - this is a cracking book. I also have the authors other books which are equally good. Highly recommended." (Reader Amazon UK) *****  Image courtesy of franky242 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Is there conflict on your construction project?Every construction project has a conflict. There’s conflict amongst workers within the teams, conflict between supervisors, conflict within the contractor’s management team, conflict with suppliers and subcontractors, conflict between subcontractors, and conflict between the client’s team and the contractor’s team. A construction project is a melting pot of egos, personalities, and cultures. It’s a stressed environment with everyone trying to do the best for themselves and their company, while getting the job completed as quickly as possible, often in difficult circumstances while working long hours. Why There is Conflict on Construction ProjectsSometimes you can’t avoid conflict on construction projects. You have to stand up to the client when they’re being unfair to your company and demanding things which aren’t in the contract document. You have to take a stand when people in your crew aren’t obeying company or project rules. You have to be tough on suppliers and subcontractors who aren’t delivering. But this must be done without yelling and swearing (regrettably I was often guilty of this). It’s important to explain why you’re unhappy and what’s unacceptable. Of course, there will always be some that make you angry. Some will be blocking access. Mistakes will be made. The wrong materials will be used, or materials you ordered for a task will go missing or have been wasted elsewhere on the project. Equipment will be damaged. Some will unfairly hog equipment, like cranes, so that your tasks are kept waiting. It’s good to be so passionate about the work that you care when others are impeding you. But, don’t fly into a rage. Understand that often others are also passionate about getting their work done. Others on the project are also stressed. Often, they aren’t even aware of the impact their actions are having on your work or the project. Explain logically what the problem is and more importantly how the problem should be resolved. Sure, you can show your displeasure and tell the person what impact their actions are having on your works so that the situation should be avoided in the future. But you also need to understand that completing the project is a team effort and the project isn’t complete until all sections of work are complete. Unquestionably, there will always be some incompetent managers and supervisors, there will be some idiots on the project, some managers and client’s representatives will be irritating with poor knowledge and little experience. Construction is like that. There are many who shouldn’t hold the position that they do, but you have to learn to work around them. If need help them. Tripping them up is seldom going to benefit you other than the short-term satisfaction it may provide. Obviously, never be so assured in your knowledge and self-esteem that you aren’t prepared to listen to the other person. None of us are so perfect that we can’t learn something new, or a new method of doing things. Sometimes even young and inexperienced managers may see things differently and come up with an innovative solution you hadn’t considered before, so first think before you raise an objection or flat-out no. Even idiots can sometimes surprise! Avoiding disputes on your construction projectThere will be times when others will be unhappy with you – rightly or wrongly. They may yell and swear at you. Of course, you won’t like that, but that’s no reason to yell and cuss back. Rather stay calm. If you did something wrong admit it and apologise – that will soon diffuse the situation and in most cases the other person will forget that anything happened and move on. Arguing something where you’re wrong will invariably escalate the situation making it worse. Certainly, if the other person is wrong then tell them why they’re wrong. Be prepared to argue your case in a clear logical manner without becoming emotional or personal about it – even if the other person is throwing personal insults. Sometimes arguments are over stupid small things. Consider if it’s really worth your time and effort to argue some silly point or misdemeanour. Some arguments are best walked away from. Sometimes though problems can’t be rationally resolved, the other person is never going to understand your point of view. In these cases, it may be necessary to involve a third party to settle the dispute. Conflicts within your construction crewOn occasion, there may be some in your crew fighting and arguing. This is disruptive and can jeopardise safety and productivity. It’s important to have a harmonious team and to step-in and quickly resolve the dispute. Listen to each person’s arguments and then logically explain who is right and who is wrong. Sometimes both might be wrong. Unfortunately, from time to time we get troublemakers in our team, or maybe just somebody that’s obnoxious and gets people’s backs up. If the person is unable to change their behaviour they may have to be moved elsewhere, possibly have their employment terminated. There will also sometimes be clashes of personality, someone does not see eye to eye with another. It’s important to understand why there’s a problem. If it’s because of racial, ethnic or any form of discrimination it’s important to stamp it out immediately, and the person being discriminatory should be warned to discontinue the behaviour or disciplinary action will be taken. If it’s simply a clash of personalities and neither party is prepared to back down then one of the workers may have to be transferred to another crew. But always try and talk through the problem with the two people. Talk to others in the crew to check that there isn’t another underlying cause that you’ve missed, a matter that could perhaps arise later in another form. Sure, sometimes it might seem like you’re a policeman, a psychologist, a judge, jury, and even sometimes like a parent, but unfortunately being a project manager, construction supervisor or foreman is all of these and more. ConclusionOf course, always make sure that you aren’t the cause of conflict on construction projects. Ensure that you aren’t taking your stress, frustration, and overwork out on others. Ensure that you aren’t hindering others from doing their job. Make sure that you aren’t being unduly difficult or unreasonable. It takes two people for there to be conflict. Is there conflict on your project? This article was first published on the ClockShark website. Please like, comment and share this 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.
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 F. Muhammad from Pixabay Do you know what to do if there’s a construction accident on your project? Does your crew know what to do if there’s an accident? It’s terrible when there’s an accident on a construction project, especially if someone is seriously injured. None of us really wants to think about an accident so often we and our crew are unprepared when an accident strikes. Yet being prepared for the worst, and having our crew prepared for an accident may just be the difference between life and death for someone. Construction is an inherently dangerous occupation and regrettably, accidents regularly occur on construction projects and they strike unexpectedly, even on safe and well-managed projects. Often time is of the essence when there’s an accident. Emergency services must be contacted and they must have directions to get to the scene of the accident as quickly as possible. What to do when a construction accident happens1. Contact emergency services Does everyone on your construction project know who to contact in the event of an accident? Some projects are spread over large distances – can crews contact emergency services in the case of a construction accident? Sometimes small crews are left after hours to finish off work – will they be able to call for assistance if there’s an accident? Work crews must have access to a working telephone or radio. Note that some projects in the country, particularly in hilly areas, may have parts of the project without mobile telephone reception so always ensure that workers can communicate in the event of an emergency. Providing every worker with a safety card of emergency numbers, including the contact details for company managers, which they keep in a wallet or pocket will mean that emergency numbers are always close at hand. Add the project address to the card so the person can immediately tell emergency services where they are. Even have new project workers input these numbers into their cell phone (mobile phone) during their inductions. 2. First-aid facilities Fully equipped first-aid kits must be available at key points on the project. These locations should be clearly signed so they can be found in an emergency. Unfortunately frequently items are removed from first-aid kits and they aren’t replenished, so the temptation is to lock the kits away. However, it’s vital that first-aid kits are easily accessible in an emergency, even after hours. It won’t help if the first-aid kit is in an office on the ground and the crew is working on the fifteenth floor of a high-rise building, or the kit is in a vehicle that has left the project on an errand. Of course, it would be terrible to open a first-aid kit in an emergency to find that it is incomplete and critical items you require aren’t there. It’s therefore important that first-aid kits have a list of their contents. The kit must be regularly checked and missing items replaced. Some products have expiry dates and these should be checked and expired products replaced. Preferably there should be a first-aid register to record treatments given and the products used. This register could be key to tracing treatments provided should the treated person’s condition deteriorate. It also serves as a way to track what products have been issued from the kit. There should be at least one trained first-aider on all projects and preferably only they should draw items from the first-aid kit. The work crew should never be allowed to take items from the first-aid kit unsupervised unless it’s an emergency. Anyway, all items removed should be recorded. Why don’t you attend a first-aid course? Your new knowledge could save a life – at work, even at home, or anywhere at any time. Don’t stand helplessly when there’s an accident – an understanding of first-aid could help you save a life. Serious construction accidentsAll workers on construction projects must attend a project induction. One of the topics discussed should be what to do in the event of an accident and who to call. In most areas, the hospital, doctor or ambulance crew will require details of the company’s health insurance, so it’s vital to have the necessary documentation handy so that the injured person can speedily receive the best treatment. In the event of a serious accident the injured person should be removed from immediate danger. Emergency services should be contacted. Someone should be sent to meet the emergency services, possibly to the project entrance or nearest road intersection, so they can direct the ambulance or fire tender to the scene. Emergency first-aid should be applied. Shut down operations in the area. Ensure the area is safe. This could include shutting down power and gas supplies. If the accident is on a road set up warning signs and barricades to stop or divert the traffic. Before the ambulance leaves find out where they’ll be taking the patient. Secure the injured person’s personal effects so that nothing goes missing. Management should be notified. The client should be notified. Always take photographs of the accident scene as soon as the situation is under control. Note the names of witnesses. For serious accidents and incidents cordon the accident area off. When there are serious injuries and death the authorities will have to be notified, which could include the police and the department of health and safety. Where the injured person is a union member their union will have to be notified. Insurers should be notified where there’s damage to a building, equipment, or someone that doesn’t work for your company is injured. The next of kin of the injured should be notified of the accident and which hospital the person has been taken to. After the accidentThe status of the people involved should be checked, and management and the client updated on their health and recovery. If it’s somebody in your crew visit them in hospital and ensure that they are being looked after. All serious incidents and accidents should be properly investigated. Only a designated company spokesperson should talk to the media so that there’s one version of the events. Your crew should not talk to the media. Conclusion good treatment is essential and time is of the essence....Continue Reading.... This article was first published on the ClockShark website. To visit this website and continue reading the article click on the link above. Please like, comment and share this 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.
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 courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Last week we discussed preparing for your meeting: Construction Project Meetings - Part 1 Be prepared. So now hopefully you are ready for your meeting with the client. Make sure you arrive on time. It's rude to keep people waiting, it wastes everyone's time and it creates a bad impression. You can be sure that if you arrive late you have irritated the client and they be less sympathetic to what you have to say in the meeting. It goes without saying that you should arrive at the meeting with the minutes of the last meeting in your hand, as well as the documentation and answers that you required for the meeting. Have something to take notes. Try and cleanup before the meeting. It doesn't mean putting on a tie or jacket, but at least look respectable and professional. Believe it or not our work and competence is often judged on whether we look professional. Construction project meetingsIt's polite to turnoff the sound of your phone so an incoming call doesn't interrupt the meeting. Refrain from frequently looking at your phone and reading messages and emails. As I said in the article last week, project meetings are often a good time to discuss concerns and issues with the client's project team. At the start of the meeting raise any corrections to the previous meeting minutes. As mentioned it's not necessary to be pedantic and raise issue with spellings and grammar, but do correct the spelling of names if necessary. It is important that the facts as discussed at the last meeting have been fairly recorded and that there aren't additions in the minutes which weren't discussed. During the meeting make your own notes of important discussion points and answers. Not only is this a record so that you can check the meeting minutes when they are issued, but they remind you of stuff that you need to action when you get back to the project. Ensure you provide the correct information and answers at the meeting. Remember the meeting minutes are a record which could be later used to prove or refute a variation claim. Don't guess answers. If you're not sure of something then rather say so and commit to providing the answer after the meeting. If you have questions or things to discuss then ensure you raise them under the relevant agenda items. Don't make promises at the meeting, or commit to dates, without giving proper consideration to what you are committing to and whether you can deliver on the promise. Don't be pressured into committing to something you're not sure is doable. Rather ask for time to check and get back with a commitment. This doesn't mean that you are obviously obstructive or evasive. Just be sure of your answers. You may even choose to provide a qualified answer that you will probably achieve the date, but you must first check when you get back to your office and confer with others before providing a definitive answer. Avoid getting into petty arguments. If you are wrong, then admit it and move on. I've had construction managers working for me who have argued points when they were wrong. Even dragging them over to several following meetings, so the embarrassing item appeared in several meeting minutes. Learn to move on. Of course when you are right and the item is contractually significant then make sure you provide clear and correct answers and that your point of view is recorded in the minutes even if the client does not agree. The meeting should never be a shouting match, even if others are disrespectful at the meeting. Always stay calm and have your say. If your say is not accurately recorded in the meeting minutes then put the points in a letter afterwards. Don't talk over others and listen to what others are saying After project meetingsAfter the meeting go through your notes and action the things that need to be actioned. Convey information to your team that arose from the meeting. If there were decisions made at the meeting which have time or cost implications then ensure these are recorded. Get official client instructions where required, or lodge variations as necessary. Get back to the client's team with any answers or information you promised to provide at the meeting. Provide the missing information as soon as possible so you don't forget. Anyway efficient response provides the team reassurance that you reliably provide information when you don't have the exact answers at the meeting. Conclusion - construction project meetings are importantConstruction project meetings can provide a useful interaction with the client's team and they can be a pathway to resolve issues on the project. Regrettably the client's team is often responsible for managing the meeting and recording the minutes. They may steer the discussion away from sensitive or embarrassing subjects, or write the minutes in a one sided manner. It is therefore important to be prepared for the meeting, to check the previous meeting minutes carefully and report corrections and see that these are recorded, then to act professionally at the meeting, with calm and dignity. Remember the meeting minutes are often read by higher authorities, both from the client and even your managers. Try and ensure that your actions do not reflect poorly on your company. Project meeting minutes are a valuable record and they must be correct. Please like, share and comment. 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.  Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Most projects have weekly or biweekly meetings with the client or their representatives. If the client has not scheduled meetings, it’s good practice to request them. Minutes of meetings should be circulated to all attendees Client meetings are often run to an agenda prepared by the client. The contractor should be free to add agenda items which they believe are relevant to managing the project successfully. Preparation for construction project meetingsProject Managers often go into meetings ill prepared and without information previously requested, resulting in items remaining on the minutes week-after-week. This reflects poorly on the contractor, and the Project Manager, because these minutes are usually circulated within the client and managing contractor’s organisations and are often read by senior people within these organisations. Items which aren’t closed out tend to irritate the client and managing contractor, giving the appearance that the contractor is ignoring them, and administrating the contract unprofessionally. The day before the meeting:
o client delays o correspondence not replied to o overdue payments o any new or potential problems  Image courtesy of suphakit73 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net  Site meetings are often ideal places to resolve issues or bring them to a head. Please like, share and comment. This article is an extract from the author's book 'Successful Construction Project Management: The Practical Guide' which is packed with construction project management tips and advice. 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.  Image courtesy of Serge Bertasius Photography at FreeDigitalPhotos.net From time to time new people will join your construction team. They may be permanent additions, or only helping out for a day or two. Sometimes they’ve come from another supervisor, even from another project, but often they’ll be new to the company. Supervisors and project managers are always busy, so regrettably most will give the person the briefest greeting, point them in the direction of where the crew is working, then expect them to get on with the job. Unfortunately, on one project we had a subcontractor’s employee fall to their death. They had only started on the construction project and with their company that morning. Nobody had explained the hazards of the project to the new employee, no one had checked to see if they could work at heights, nobody was checking what the new employee was doing, or looking out for them. The employee did a silly thing and instead of climbing down from the elevated working platform using the ladder, they rather clambered through the handrails and tried to step across the gap between the platform and the second floor of the building – slipping and falling to their death. Sometimes new employees are given tasks which they aren’t capable of doing, which could result in mistakes and poor quality. But equally bad, is when a skilled person is given menial tasks because the project manager or construction supervisor is unaware of their skills and capabilities. This not only demotivates the person, but it’s a waste of money because a less skilled person on a lower wage could do the task equally well. Of course, the first thing with any new employee in construction is to ask for proof that they’ve attended the project induction. Then talk to them for a few minutes to understand what experience and skills they have. If necessary ask to see their qualifications – particularly check licenses and never assume that if the person was operating a vehicle or machine elsewhere on the project that they have a valid license to operate the equipment. If the employee has come from another supervisor ask that supervisor about the employees abilities, strengths and weaknesses. Check that the person has a reasonable command of the language used on the project – will they understand your instructions and will they be able to communicate with the rest of the project team. Explain what you are doing and how the person will fit in the construction team. Tell them where they’ll find tools and materials for their tasks. Explain your expectations of your team. Then introduce the person to others in the construction team, particularly those they will be working with. Ask one of your older hands to look out for and help the new person. Finally, later in the day, ask the responsible person how the new person is doing and if there are potential problems that you should know about. Sure, this all sounds like it will take 10 minutes of time that you can ill afford to spare, but that 10 minutes will more than pay for itself if it’s helped prevent an accident. It will help to utilise the person efficiently and effectively. It will ensure that they fit into the team quicker. It makes the new employee feel like a valuable part of the construction team and not just a body filling a gap. Please like, share and comment.
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.  Image courtesy of njaj at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Every construction project and client seem to have different safety standards. Some clients can be quite slack when it comes to safety, while other construction projects have numerous rigorous rules. Even the authorities don’t always apply safety standards in an even and consistent manner. The client has their safety standards, then there are the national and state safety standards, while some industries, like oil and mining, have their own particular rigorous safety standards, while your company has their safety rules and safety standards. Which safety rules should you follow? It can be quite confusing moving between construction projects with differing safety standards. Construction safety standardsWhen implementing safety measures the rule should always be that the most rigorous safety standards apply. But more importantly, that work is always done in a safe manner. So, no matter the rules and regulations you should never carry out work which could endanger a person’s life or damage property. Often common-sense is the best safety protection. Unfortunately, some in construction don’t apply common sense. If it looks unsafe don’t do it. If it looks unsafe stop the task and reassesses how the work can be done safely. Project safety requirementsAlways ensure that you understand the project safety requirements. Importantly ensure that your crew understands the project safety requirements, because if it’s confusing to you then it’s certainly confusing for them. Always ensure that the safety standards are set from the first day on the project and that they are applied consistently through the whole project. Are all safety rules necessarySome clients may have safety rules that you feel are unnecessary. In fact, some safety officers have their own unique things they look for. It’s seldom worth arguing that a safety rule is unnecessary, and it’s not a fight that you’re likely to win. In reality, the more you argue the case, the more likely the client or safety officer will dig their heals in and enforce their rules. Often this argument results in a bad attitude, which causes the person to look for additional safety issues and problems to make your life more difficult. Of course, if there are additional safety rules which are hindering the project or adding additional costs which aren’t a general requirement on other construction projects you could perhaps argue the case. But first, check that the additional safety requirements aren’t stipulated in the contract document (this could include wearing additional personal protective equipment). In which case the contractor should have allowed for these additional measures in their price, and you should have no reason to refuse to comply. If there are additional rules which hinder work which hasn’t been stipulated in the contract, then the contractor may have reason to claim additional costs and time from the client, but probably won’t win an argument to slacken the requirement. But before arguing the case against a particular safety requirement always consider whether the rule will prevent an accident and how much of a nuisance it actually is. We often resist change simply because we don’t like change! We shouldn’t be arguing against something that will prevent an injury. And some fights aren’t worth wasting our time and energy on or aggravating our clients. Safety firstNone of us want to be injured at work and none of us want any of our crew hurt, so it’s vital that our construction projects are always safe no matter if the safety rules and regulations are relaxed, or the client accepts a lesser safety standard. Applying a consistently high safety standard across all our projects will reduce accidents and it will mean that our construction crews automatically follow these standards on their next project. Please like and share this post 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.
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 Capri23auto from Pixabay Many see safety as a pain, additional costs, rules, an impediment to construction progress, paperwork, something that the authorities and clients focus on as a reason to torment contractors, and more. In fact, there are probably some readers already yawning thinking “not safety again”! But, if you want to know about additional costs, wasted time and more paperwork, then let your construction project have a serious accident. Serious accidents could close the project for hours, even days. It can take days to investigate and clear-up. It creates poor media attention, and it will impact those on the construction project, and particular the project manager’s and supervisor’s reputation, as well as the contractor’s reputation. But, should we even consider all of that? Poor safety impacts peoples’ lives. It could even impact your life. It could be life-changing. Everyone on your construction project has the right to return home in the same state of health as they arrived at the start of their shift. Would you want to knock on somebody’s front door to tell them that their son, daughter, husband or partner is lying critically injured in hospital, or perhaps even dead? Hurt on your project!  Image by F. Muhammad from Pixabay Why is Construction Safety ImportantAccidents eat profits Your family expects to see you safely home at the end of each day. Accidents could result in days in hospital and weeks of recuperation. The time when you aren’t earning money, or are only paid part of your salary. Days of pain. Days of trauma for your family. Accidents could lead to the loss of an eye, finger or limb. They can lead to permanent disability. A serious injury may prevent you from working again in construction. Accidents result in increased insurance premiums for contractors, which pushes up the cost of business. Accidents eat profits. Loss of business Most clients expect their contractors to work safely. Many clients ask to see the contractor’s safety statistics and contractors with a poor safety record won’t be allowed to work on their construction projects – these contractors may find it difficult to find work. Production loss Of course, accidents could mean that a critical piece of construction equipment is damaged, which will impact progress. An injured worker will result in less production. If the injured person is a key person, such as a crane operator or someone with a key skill they could be difficult to replace, and their loss will impact production on the construction project, causing the work crews to be less productive, even standing idle while a replacement is sought. Then, what happens to the work crew if it’s the supervisor who is injured? Unnecessary wages Often the injured person’s wages must be paid by the company while they are booked-off work recuperating. This is a cost to the project. Delays Sometimes completed work, or critical material is damaged in the accident. Repairing or replacing the items costs money and often causes delays. Delays result in additional costs and could result in the client imposing monetary penalties on the contractor. Investigations All serious accidents are investigated by the authorities. Where a construction project manager, superintendent, supervisor or foreman is found to be negligent they could receive a monetary fine, they could be dragged before the courts to face a lengthy and costly trial, and they could even end up doing prison time. Negligent construction companies and careless managers will definitely be sanctioned and fined. Avoid accidents on your construction projectIndeed, it’s not worth working unsafely, it’s not worth taking short cuts and it’s not worth putting production and schedule ahead of safety. Your life and the lives of others depends on you working safely, it depends on project managers, superintendents and supervisors ensuring a safe working environment for their crew, other workers on the construction project, the client’s personnel and the general public. Safety isn’t just about rules, rather it’s about changing behaviours, it’s a commitment from everyone from top management, through the project manager, supervisors and superintendents, down to every worker to work safely. Conclusion - poor safety is not worth itAccidents are life-changing. They often happen when you least expect them. Indeed, I’ve completed dangerous work at heights without incident, only to have a stupid accident at the end of the construction project when trucks were being loaded. It is possible to complete construction projects without accidents. I’ve completed many projects that worked in excess of a million man-hours without serious injury. It takes a little care and a commitment from workers and management. It means that safety comes first on the project. Safety should never only be about rules. ...Continue Reading... This article was first published on the ClockShark website. To visit this website and continue reading the article click on the link above. Please share this 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.
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 courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net When you are in the construction industry, estimating project costs is an inevitable task. Surprisingly, estimating is actually one of the most difficult tasks when it comes to a construction project. If your price is and cost estimates is too low your project will lose money. If your prices are too high your competitors will have lower prices and will win the project. The profitability of a project at the time of completion can vary from expectations at the beginning of the project. This is why a construction company must get their price estimates right before the project starts. One factor that is really important in determining the profitability of a project is estimating. Profits are typically won or lost based on the accuracy of your estimates and how they match with your final project costs. Some companies shut down because of unprofitable projects. Believe it or not, chances are that one bad estimate of a project won’t easily put you out of the market, but try two to three bad estimates and your company will probably fail. Let’s take a look at some common construction estimating mistakes and how you will be able to prevent them. 1. No Site Visit There are no two identical job sites and there are sometimes unknown site conditions that can cause unexpected and even costly issues when the construction work begins. This is why before pricing a construction project you should conduct a site visit. A site visit enables you take measurements, inspect the topography, look at road access and traffic to the site, determine how much space you need for staging, equipment, and the delivery and storage of materials. It will also help you know what environmental protections should be in place for construction so you can allow for these and other costs. You also have to ensure that any subcontractors whose work may be impacted by the site condition visit as well. This is important so they can assess the site for themselves and factor in all the additional costs that the existing site conditions might present when you’re already doing the estimates. 2. Inaccuracy of Takeoffs (measurement of quantities) Takeoffs help lay the groundwork for estimates. When you have incorrect or incomplete measurement of the quantities your price estimates will be wrong. To help you determine the exact quantities needed for all your materials and supplies, you need to have accurate takeoffs. Takeoffs are also important to determine your labour and equipment needs. Missing items during takeoff, or having the wrong quantity, will result in a cost estimate that is wrong, either too high or too low. To get accurate measurements for your estimates, you can now use takeoff software. 3. Labour Costs Labour costs are sometimes the hardest item to nail down accurately when it comes to making your estimate. When it comes to labour costs., there are several variables that come into play. This can include the number of available workers for the project, their experience level, their productivity, and the rate of pay. You should focus on the determination of the number of man-hours it takes to perform a task to use a guide in the estimation of labour costs. Also, don’t forget to keep records of past job costs, especially labour costs and production rates, to help you get more accurate estimates on future projects. 4. Costs of Materials and Supplies Another big cost for construction projects an accurate estimate of your construction materials and supplies. Keep in mind that prices for materials can change from the time you start an estimate up to the time that construction commences. The demand for materials changes and this impacts the prices, thus making it harder to get estimates right. Currency variations also impact the cost of imported materials. One thing that can help you with the costs of materials and supplies is by establishing relationships with building product manufacturers and suppliers. They will not only help you lock in on accurate prices but they can also refer you to alternative materials that might better fit your project. 5. Failure to Assess Risks & Create Contingencies Risks are always a possibility in every construction project. You should incorporate a risk assessment when you’re doing the estimating process. Failure to assess risks and build in contingencies to your estimate will be detrimental if things do go wrong. Always remember that you likely won’t be able to recover your losses should an unforeseen issue suddenly pop up once construction has commenced. 6. Uneducated Guesses This is something you must never do -- don’t gamble on a project by making uninformed or uneducated guesses in your estimate. To ensure your estimates are accurate, you should track job costs on every project. Research the most current data available and base your job costs for labour, materials, and equipment on this data. Also, include overhead costs and cost for inspections. 7. Not Checking Your Work Although small estimating errors or omissions might not make much of an impact, big ones such as omitting scope items, inaccurate measurement, or using wrong units of measure, can put your business in huge trouble. Always take the time to carefully review your work. Ensure that your measurements are accurate and that your math for all costs is correct. Keep in mind that rushing through your work will only result in costly mistakes in the future. 8. Not Reviewing Contractor/Subcontractor Estimates If you need to hire contractors and subcontractors, be sure that you review their bid estimates and proposals. They should understand exactly what aspects or parts of the project you want them to work on and complete on time. This is important to avoid duplication of work in their estimates that are covered by other contractors and subcontractors. Lastly, you should always be involved in every stage of the project estimate. You may hire an estimator if you think it will work better for your company. However, it is advisable that you always stay updated and involved. Review everything that your estimator reports to you and don’t hesitate to provide advice or make changes to their proposals. If you are not yet confident with your judgement, you can seek the help and advice of reliable construction companies that could be your possible contractors or subcontractors for a project. Author Bio: Best Access Doors is a trusted supplier that provides for your access door needs or for any construction project. When it comes to helping construction companies come up with great estimates for their business, we do our best to give you affordable quality products. For more inquiries or more help, visit our website. 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. Find out how Paul Netscher can help you  Image by Alexey Hulsov from Pixabay Today Spain and Italy and 20% of the USA are in lock-down due to coronavirus or covid19. More countries are taking drastic steps to lock-down neighbourhoods, cities, states and countries. Will your construction project be forced to stop work? Will you be prepared for an indefinite closure of your construction project? But even if there isn’t a general closure of businesses in your region your construction project could be closed for 14 days if one person tests positive for coronavirus or covid19. Everyone working on the project will be quarantined for two weeks and you may have to get professional cleaners in to disinfect and clean equipment, offices and various facilities. Clients might not even accept completed buildings until they’re professionally cleaned if there’s a risk that surfaces were contaminated by sick workers. How to prepare your construction project for coronavirus lock-downAt this stage many closures are indefinite. They could be for 2 weeks, a month, even longer. Who knows? What will happen to your construction project while it’s in lock-down? What will the weather be when it’s safe to return? Will your project be safe? Well here are a few steps to take in preparation.
What to do when your project is about to go into lock-downUsually the authorities provide 24 to 48 hours ahead of the lock-down. To prepare the project:
What if your project is essential and must work through the lock-down? Some construction projects may be able to continue working through lock-downs.
Conclusion These are testing times for everyone. Being prepared can help reduce some of the fallout from a project lock-down. Good luck to everyone. Stay healthy. Practice commonsense. May the pandemic pass quickly with minimal disruption and sickness so we can return to normal. Importantly - practice good hygiene and don't get infected and don't make others ill. For further information on getting your workplace ready for the virus read this advice from the World Health Organisation. For information on self isolation visit Read What will you do if you are quarantined Also Read How cononavirus could impact your construction project Please like and share. 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.
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The opinions expressed in the attached articles are those of the writer. It should be noted that projects are varied and different laws and restrictions apply which depend on the location of the contractor and the project. It's important that the reader uses the supplied information taking cognisance of their particular circumstances. The writer assumes no responsibility or liability for any loss of any kind arising from the reader using the information or advice contained herein. "I have what I consider some of the best books on construction management."
Books are available from: Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk takealot.com kalahari.com Amazon.in Amazon.de Amazon.fr Amazon.it Amazon.com.au Powell's Fishpond uread bokus Amazon.ca Amazon.es Other retail stores Available in paperback or on Kindle "28 YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE, DEVELOPING SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS AND BUILDING SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES"
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