6 Steps to Keep Construction Projects Moving in 2021
The covid-19 pandemic has impacted the economic status of nearly every industry, and one of the most affected industries is the construction industry. Several unexpected changes happened around the industry that many Construction Projects had shut down completely.
In India, the construction industry is one of the largest employers of workers, yet the pandemic has seized 8.5 million jobs in this industry. The way projects are done and meeting with clients has been changed.
Even though several construction businesses have resumed site works by following the social distancing guidelines and other rules laid by the government, industry owners are looking into more effective strategies to keep their construction projects moving forward in the upcoming years.
Below we have listed the steps to keep your construction projects moving in such difficult times.
1) Analyze and Understand The Risks
Analyzing risks is one of the core strategies for every business, even before the pandemic. When taking up a new project, construction business owners analyze the risks by defining how they can design and build assets around these risks. Contractors and subcontractors will also collaborate with the project managers in identifying and planning around the dangers.
If you have decided to start a new project related to healthcare, schools, or retail, ask yourself these questions – Are there enough labor available to keep the project moving? Can the materials be delivered on time without delay? Are there any shipping issues? How can you continue the project and reduce delays when similar problems arise?
This forward-thinking strategy could help construction companies to respond and work accordingly when uncertain situations arise.
2) Prepare New Set of Safety Measures
The safety and good health of your employees will be the top priority in the coming days. For the security of your employees and to ensure project sites are not shut down as a result of violating safety regulations, it is essential to comply with all rules and regulations set by the government.
Be ready with the new set of safety measures to be followed in the construction project sites. Proper hygiene maintenance is crucial in the worksite and ensures that all the employees work with social distancing. Check temperatures before allowing employees into the construction site and allow sick workers to stay at home. It is vital to follow this practice strictly.
3) Contract for Extension of Time
It is common in construction projects to permit the extension of the construction period if there is a postponement in work, which is not the contractor’s fault. The construction sector refers to this state as an extension of time(EOT).
In such situations, the contractor would submit a written notice to the contract administrator, who will analyze the reason for the delay of the project and permit the extension of time by adjusting the completion date.
The present pandemic situation could lead to delay in construction projects due to a shortage of labor or lack of materials which would be typical. In such cases, the contractors need to submit their requests for an extension of time earlier.
4) Prefer Native Workers and Local Suppliers
Supply chain management has been affected primarily due to the pandemic. The adequate flow of raw materials and goods has stopped due to national lockdown rules everywhere. Generally, construction firms obtain the raw materials required for their project from nationwide suppliers or overseas dealers.
To keep the construction project moving without delay, construction firms should prefer goods and materials from the local suppliers and hire native workers to join their labor team. Besides, local supplies are more likely to make extra efforts to ensure your needs are met timely.
5) Be Very Clear about Cost Escalation
According to the Construction Cost Guidebook India published by JLL, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused an increase in the cost of construction. It has led to a sudden halt of several construction projects and interruption in supply chains.
Cost escalation could become common in the coming days, and the construction business owners need to be conscious of the price hikes and address those concerns in their contracts, purchase orders, and other agreements. This helps everyone involved in the construction project to understand the rise in costs and prepare themselves for such situations.
6) Make Use of Remote Collaboration Tools
The construction industry has upgraded to the newest technology innovations even though some firms lagged in adopting those technologies. But the pandemic has forced them to make use of such tools. To keep construction projects moving in situations of crisis, continue using those technology tools.
Hold meetings through team collaboration software to discuss the projects. Building Information Modelling(BIM) tools help construction designers design their building models virtually and allow them to share with their team. This helps everyone have a clear understanding before starting the project and assists them in completing the construction work faster.
Final Thoughts
We have listed six steps that would help you to keep your construction projects moving at these difficult times. The covid-19 pandemic has taught us to adapt ourselves to any such situation in the future. Analyze the risks, communicate with your team effectively, and move forward with hope.
