In this month’s edition of “What’s Trending in Construction,” we’re focusing on technology and the impact it’s had on the construction industry’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re now six months into one of the largest worldwide health emergencies in history with no end in sight, and we are witnessing the construction industry’s unprecedented embrace of technology in an effort to overcome previously unforeseen obstacles.
Years ago, working for a larger construction company, I had an epiphany that sometimes, even seasoned companies don’t necessarily do everything better. Occasionally, they even succeed in spite of themselves. The first project that I was assigned to had been awarded six months prior, was approximately $25 mil, and was about to be terminated by the Government for the company’s failure to perform. During my initial meeting with the Government’s CM, I found out why.
An Accident Prevention Plan (APP) is essential to all construction projects, outlining how all aspects of your company’s safety program will be successfully administered on the project while adhering to regulatory requirements and the contract requirements.
The ripple effect of COVID-19 through the construction industry and the world economy as a whole is more like a tsunami whose effects, like the virus itself, are not yet seen. From material procurement to scheduling to employee safety, the industry may never look the same, and views on risk management have forever been altered.
Let’s face it: construction workers are a tough breed. Long hours, cold, rain, and the occasional smashed finger are all just part of the job. But now construction workers are facing something they cannot see that can have serious health implications for them and their families. As construction resumes throughout the country, new protocols for worker safety are being implemented on job sites and in offices, and construction companies must thoroughly explain the risks and controls in order to fully educate their workforce.