No matter how safe you try to be, construction projects are inherently dangerous. According to OSHA, the four main causes of construction fatalities include falls, getting struck by something, caught in or between objects, and electrocution. Preventing these and other hazards becomes a top goal for any construction manager.
To do this well requires working together with each stakeholder and ensuring your practices cover every base. While it’s a complex job to juggle, it is possible to get from start to finish as safely as possible. These top four tips and best practices can help you establish your construction project framework as you get started.
1. Plan Details Thoroughly
You know where you’re starting and what you want the finished project to look like. How will you get there? The answer to this question requires in-depth planning before you should proceed.
Managing a construction project includes both large milestones and tiny details. All of these pieces must work together cohesively to reach the final goal. But assuming they’ll all fall in place without careful planning is planning to fail.
Before the first materials are purchased and any action begins, take time to work with each stakeholder to determine the overall scope of the project. What are the objectives? What kind of timeline and budget does each section entail? What resources are available, and which materials do you still need to buy?
By working with experts in each area, you’ll have a better grasp of what is involved in the project’s completion and if there are alternative solutions. For instance, as this article from FMP Construction explains, it may be more feasible to use concrete instead of steel pier foundations, or vice versa, in your project. Without the input of those who understand the difference, there might be unnecessary money and time spent on a lesser choice.
2. Establish Communication Procedures
Many accidents happen because of poor communication. An overeager supervisor passes on instructions that aren’t accurate, and the laborer does the job. The results are subpar and dangerous, or someone gets hurt.
Questions arise on the construction site, and no one knows who to get answers from. These ineffective communication issues could have been prevented from the start by establishing procedures.
While the construction manager is “in charge,” they aren’t always available. What is the chain of command from there? How does the team know when changes or updates occur? Who is responsible for updating stakeholders and team members? How are issues resolved quickly?
Knowing the communication procedures before any work begins ensures less downtime between responses and fewer inaccurate instructions passed on.
3. Plan For Risks
Somewhere in your action plan are various possible risky steps. The more experience you have in construction, the easier it becomes to identify these areas of risk and establish a plan for managing them. But even if you don’t catch all of them, planning for risks can help avoid them altogether or reduce the damage they might have otherwise caused.
Start by going through the finished plan with all experts involved and looking for areas that tend to be problematic or might not align seamlessly, such as the need for ordering supplies that have been notoriously hard to get or from a supplier who has frequently been late with deliveries in the past. Review OSHA’s guidelines and look for areas of concern within your project’s scope. What can you do to reduce the chances of someone getting hurt while working on your construction site?
Make a list of all potential problems. Then, determine the likelihood of the risk occurring and how significantly it would damage the project’s progression. What kind of plan can you put in place to mitigate the risk’s effect?
Keep in mind that part of the mitigation plan may include how to handle the issue after it happens. It isn’t always possible to avoid every problem. However, your team should know how to escalate a solution to prevent unnecessary damage stemming from uncertainty on how to proceed when a risk turns into an injury or a delay.
4. Use Technology To Your Advantage
Whether you’re comfortable with computers and all the innovative software they bring or you prefer minimal tech, the reality is that the right programs can streamline nearly every aspect of your construction project.
Consider how your budget is handled, for instance. Sticking to budgets in construction work is often difficult. With budget management technology, your team can track expenses in real-time and compare them to the budget, adjust changes in orders when they occur instead of waiting for approval, and predict any upcoming costs.
Tech software can also ensure your team and resources adhere to your quality control standards, using advancements like drones to inspect for compliance even when you can’t be on a site. Documenting issues or concerns becomes simplified with collaborative tools. Stakeholders can be notified immediately when something important arises.
Conclusion
As a project manager, you are in control of hiring the best people for the job. From there, though, handling the construction project becomes a complex system of planning, communicating and collaborating, managing risk, and including helpful technology. With these tips and best practices, you can continue to improve safety, efficiency, and overall finished construction with every project you complete.
