Flu season is here and it comes with a nasty partner named COVID. Not only are contractors worried about getting sick, they are also worried about shutting down their construction business.
Though it may be debatable just how bad this pandemic is (see Spanish Flu 1918) one thing is for sure, businesses are suffering.
What can be done to help keep your construction business going even when the government steps in to put a cramp on progress? Here are some ideas.
While you still can, it would be wise to get projects done as quickly as possible. This certainly doesn't mean sacrificing quality and safety, but if it's an option, bringing in more help to complete a project ahead of time could save money in the long run. Rental equipment, contracted labor, or machines you may have to store in the event of a shutdown could get costly.
The second round of shutdowns should be no surprise. We knew they could be coming and this time around business owners have some experience.
For that reason, a checklist is in order to keep track of what needs to be done to deal with restrictions, regulations, and expectations.
For construction owners in colder regions, the winter presents another challenge. If construction sites are shutdown, machines will need to be prepared for the cold temperatures.
Machines need to be winterized, prepared for icy conditions, with fluids changed out to prevent freezing.
Securing job sites is important to prevent theft or injury to the public. Boarding up entrances or putting up barricades may be required. Having a crew to work overnight to keep an eye on sensitive equipment is also a good idea.
In some cases, machines may have to be moved off the worksite completely to prevent liability.
A concern of many construction owners during a shutdown is losing members of the workforce. For this reason, assigning employees to perform other tasks could prevent valued workers from leaving. Simply having members of your team involved in weekly meetings can be enough to keep them dedicated to your company.
Planning ahead could help a construction company get a head start on projects coming up. During a shutdown, there will be time to gather materials, draw up plans, and secure permits.
Contractors can also use downtime as an opportunity to improve outstanding issues on a project. Perhaps there is something about a project that didn't go as planned the first time around. With time to spare, a contractor can make adjustments that weren't possible when the job was moving quickly towards a deadline.
Unless we are facing the end of the world, which is a distinct possibility, the shutdown will end. When that happens, the construction industry will come roaring back. For that reason, it's advisable to be prepared when the work starts pouring in.
Don't be the company scrambling to get crews back in place. Have a strategy to call back workers, have replacements ready, and machines lined up ready to work.
Some analysts believe the second quarter of 2021 will be when the country turns the corner resulting in surging economy.
How construction companies come out the other end will depend largely on how well they handle the next few months of partial or complete shutdowns.
