There are several steps that can be taken to prevent delays during a construction project. Read on to find out what these steps are.
Don't be careless with valuable or hard-to-replace materials
Delays can occur if the site manager and the construction crew fail to take proper care of the building materials they use during the construction project.
The reason for this is that if a collection of building materials sustain damage, they will need to be disposed of, after which the replacement materials will need to be ordered and delivered to the site. This process can add several days (or even a few weeks) to the length of the project.
As such, it is crucial to ensure that the construction materials are not left in areas of the site where they are likely to sustain damage.
For example, metal roofing materials should not be left in any parts of the building site where heavy objects could potentially fall on them.
The reason for this is as follows; if for instance, some metal roof panels are left in a pile by some scaffolding, and one of the construction workers who is standing on this scaffolding accidentally drops the power tool they are using, the tool could land on the metal roofing materials and create a large indentation, a hole, or a scratch (even a small scratch can render a metal roof panel useless, as it damages the protective exterior sealant that prevents the metal underneath it from corroding when the panel is exposed to moisture).
In this situation, the damaged panel would probably need to be discarded and replaced.
Take steps to keep the construction crew safe
If several members of the construction crew sustain injuries that require them to seek medical treatment or take time off work, the construction project could come to a standstill until these individuals recover or until replacement workers can be recruited.
As such, it is critical to ensure that the appropriate safety measures are taken when the construction crew need to use dangerous equipment or handle hazardous materials.
For example, anyone who is tasked with working in the boom of a cherry picker should be provided with a harness, a hard hat and non-slip shoes. The harness and the shoes will reduce their risk of slipping and falling out of the boom, whilst the hard hat will minimise the severity of any head injuries they sustain if they do end up falling to the ground.
Similarly, any construction worker who needs to work in an area where they may be exposed to hazardous materials (such as silica or asbestos) should be provided with disposable protective outwear and a respirator mask.
The clothing will prevent the hazardous materials from coming into contact with their skin, whilst the respirator mask will ensure that they do not inhale or ingest toxic airborne particles.
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