How to Avoid Construction Management Problems

Good project management on construction sites ensures even the most complex works take off smoothly, are delivered on time, within budget, safely, and meet the intended purpose. Although a project requires the expertise of multiple involved stakeholders, its success primarily boils down to effective management and resolution of various construction management problems.

Construction projects are complex and intricate, meaning some construction mistakes are bound to slip through the cracks. Some problems on construction sites are beyond your control, but there are measures you can take to avoid the most common issues. The key is for all stakeholders to be well-informed and act in the project’s best interests.

Over the years, Hireforce Welfare has proudly supported numerous building and demolition projects to stay on track with the multiple benefits of its site welfare cabins. Our 6 to 16-person welfare units follow worker welfare regulations and support a smooth construction management process.

Our blog explores how to manage a construction site perfectly by avoiding 5 common construction management problems.

5 Problems on Construction Sites to Avoid

1. Ignoring Safety Measures

Building and demolition projects occur in environments with heavy machinery and equipment, hazardous materials,  pits and construction dust. All these make the working environment risky and accident-prone without the appropriate safety measures. 

Accidents on a project site adversely affect workers and delay construction schedules. Accidents are unpredictable, but if the contractors, management and workforce are prepared and adequately equipped, they’re less likely to cause long-standing damage or issues.

With adequate training and technology, you can ensure your construction workforce follows the necessary safety precautions and procedures. Wearing hard hats and safety gear at all times when on site are some measures to implement. Use welfare cabins with an office setup to have a dedicated and secure venue to hold meetings and safety briefings on the site. 

Construction sites are always prone to risks, but having suitable systems and procedures in place means your workers can work safely, avoid construction management problems and ensure the project moves on smoothly.

2. Poor Project Risk Management

Building and demolition projects are inherently risky, and disregarding these risks or being inadequately prepared can lead to significant construction management problems. Common risks include unforeseen events such as bad weather, supplier delays, and unexpected site conditions, which can cause inordinate delays and hold-ups. If these risks aren’t identified and planned for, they may lead to inflated and unplanned expenses or contingencies, directly impacting stakeholders’ profit margins.

It’s the responsibility of the project management team to proactively identify potential risks and develop appropriate contingency plans to manage them. Collaborating with the key stakeholders involved in the project, the project managers must establish a comprehensive risk management system to minimise, if not completely eliminate, the impact of potential risks on the project.

3. Not Focusing on Worker Welfare

Ignoring the safety and well-being of your construction workforce can prove to be costly for your project’s outcomes. Construction workers deal with an environment that’s physically and mentally stressful. When coupled with sudden project changes, packed schedules and a rush to meet deadlines, your workers feel strained, stressed and burned out, leading to absenteeism.

While the nature of work can’t be altered, as an employer or contractor, you can provide your workers with space for taking breaks, with amenities to recharge and refresh before returning to their tasks. A site welfare unit from Hireforce Welfare can provide this and more. Our welfare trailers come with various HSE-recommended amenities, including clean and well-maintained toilets, clean running water, and a space to have meals, ensuring workers' welfare and well-being and helping avoid common problems on construction sites. Browse our range of units.

4. Ineffective Communication

Poor communication between the project’s stakeholders is perhaps one of the leading causes of project delays. Asking the right questions when seeking clarity and giving appropriate answers to raised client queries facilitates open communication. Inadequate communication can be a costly construction mistake, leading to mistakes that turn into costly delays.

Setting up proper communication is of utmost importance. Instead of waiting for responses, conduct regular briefings and meetings in a dedicated space on the project site, keeping your on-site workforce updated about the current project status. Relaying timely and detailed correspondence can avoid confusion and second-guessing about tasks, prevent expensive delays, and keep the project on track to completion. 

5. Ignoring Regulations

The construction sector is heavily regulated by the regulations mandated by the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Disregarding these critical regulatory mandates and welfare measures can demotivate the workforce and expose the involved project stakeholders to penalties and legal action.

The HSE requires all sites to provide:

• Clean and working toilets

• Adequate ventilation and heating

• Washbasins with hot and cold running water, soap, and towels

• A sink large enough to wash face, hands, and forearms

• Drinking water, facilities to prepare and eat food and a way of boiling water

• Changing areas, facilities for drying clothes and storage

• Areas for rest and eating with enough tables and seats (with backs) for the number of workers using them at any one time

All these worker welfare facilities must be planned well before the project’s start date in the planning stage. Meet these worker welfare requirements by hiring Hireforce Welfare’s Ecosmart towable welfare units. Adequate welfare facilities help avoid the construction management problem of fines, penalties, and prosecution by the relevant authorities.

Avoid Common Construction Mistakes with Hireforce Welfare

No building and demolition projects are the same; therefore, each project is vulnerable to its own set of construction management problems. However, some common construction mistakes can be avoided through appropriate measures and planning. Prevent your project from going off the rails with adverse consequences for all involved by outsourcing your on-site worker welfare requirements to Hireforce Welfare.

Our range of towable 6 to 16-person Ecosmart welfare cabins are HSE compliant, support on-site communication, focus on construction worker welfare, help in averting common risks, and support project safety measures.

Take advantage of the unparalleled benefits of our welfare cabins today. Contact us.