The golden rules for working overtime in construction

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In our last article Is overtime crushing your construction project?  we discussed the cost of working overtime in construction. 

Often construction managers get into the habit of working extended hours, which adds to the cost of construction, and causes other problems, including accidents and family issues. As we stated though, some workers also get into the habit of relying on extra pay earned from working overtime.

Overall working overtime should be discouraged as the costs often far outweigh any benefits to the project. Careful planning and employing a few extra resources can often eliminate the need to work overtime on your construction project.

However, we all know that sometimes working extra and extended shifts on construction projects is unavoidable. Even the most well planned construction project can get into trouble and need additional time. Some tasks may have to be done afterhours when the project or the area is less congested. 
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In fact, a few extra hours working a critical trade could make a big difference to the project's overall schedule

The golden rules for working overtime

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When it is necessary for work to happen after hours on your construction project you can ensure that workers are productive, costs are kept to the minimum, that work is done safely, and that the required tasks are completed by following a few simple rules.

• Ensure there is sufficient supervision in the field.
• To prevent fatigue the same workers should not work extended hours repeatedly. 
• Control time keeping so that only those present are logged in, and as soon as they leave the project they are logged out.
• Ensure critical people are present – Crane Operators, etc. It is a waste if the crew is left standing and cannot complete their task because a critical person is absent.
• Only work those that are required. It's usually not necessary to have the whole crew work longer. Keep it to those essential to complete the critical tasks only.
• Ensure equipment and materials are available.
• Check that there is adequate lighting for night work. A lack of lighting reduces productivity, is dangerous, and it could negatively impact quality.
• First-aid kits and emergency phones must be available in case of accidents.
• Work should not annoy neighbours, it will harm reputation and I'm sure your boss does not want to face a tirade when an angry neighbour calls him because they were unable to sleep the previous night, or they had their weekend family barbecue ruined by noisy work. Make sure that workers leaving the project late are considerate of neighbours and don't shout loudly in the street or rev vehicle engines when they leave the project late at night.
• Ensure working afterhours is allowed. Some cities prohibit after hours construction work, while others may require special permits.
• Inform the Client.
• Mechanics should be available in case equipment fails.
• When there is shift work on the same task then there must be a proper handover between supervisors for the next shift.
• Arrangements should be in place for transport and the project must be accessible.

Conclusion

Projects should not get in the habit of working overtime.
Controlled and limited overtime work can sometimes be beneficial.
Always consider whether employing extra resources would be a more cost effective solution to working extended hours.

Other useful articles
​Will your construction project be 100% complete when it's finished?
Are you employing the right people on your construction project?
​​How much is your brand worth? Why a good brand is vital for construction companies.

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