With news coming out that the Covid-19 numbers are skyrocketing, many contractors are bracing for government ordered construction shutdowns like the ones the industry saw in the first weeks of the pandemic.
Construction Dive reports that construction pros are trying to prepare to make sure that their projects can be put on hold as quickly and smoothly as possible so that when things are able to open again, they will be ready.
Here are 7 steps that should be considered now:
1 - Winterizing the work site
Winter weather in Illinois could be an issue when things close.
"You've got to make sure that all of your assets are secure as we enter the colder months. There are going to be ice issues, there are going to be building envelope issues. I worry about having to leave a project and not having it buttoned up."
Senior vice president at HUB International | Philip Casto
Eran Polack, CEO of HAP Construction in New York City stated that prepping for previous shutdowns included boarding up entrances to the site and then leaving a skeleton crew of two or three people onsite for security purposes.
For large, vertical construction projects, buttoning it up completely could mean decisions about rented equipment, including large cranes.
2 - Speed up ongoing work
Accelerating the work on hand ahead of schedule can be costly but it definitely is better than a looming lockdown and can be money well spent.
3 - Keep documenting your progress
The lessons learned in the shutdown early in the pandemic are serving as guideposts to prepare us for the months ahead.
A lot of those early shutdown orders came as quite a surprise, and for that reason, Casto and HUB have been telling clients to be prepared for whatever the later stages of the pandemic may hold in store, and document exactly where they are in their projects today.
“You want to make sure you have a checklist to run through. Take photographs of your project, the current percent completed, and any materials or equipment that are going to be left onsite.”
Senior vice president for HUB International | Philip Casto
4 - Keep workers involved in the project
A major concern for contractors is the possibility of workers not returning to work after a shutdown especially if they find other work elsewhere.
“For instance, if construction is deemed not to be an essential industry, but Amazon can continue to operate, one could expect a lot of construction workers to try to find work in fulfillment centers. There’s no guarantee they will come back to the construction trades."
Associated Builders and Contractors chief economist | Anirban Basu
Keep workers involved in the project during a shutdown even if physical work has stopped.
Eran Polack stated that workers should be included in meetings, including any work that can be done at home, reviewing schedules and keeping communication open so that when things do start again, you’re not coming back from a six or eight week stoppage. This makes for some continuity.
5 - Use your downtime constructively
Use the time during the shutdown to look ahead and secure materials that might be available from a state that is not under shutdown restrictions so you can more smoothly start up again when the shutdown is removed.
Also, reassess any projects to see if they can be improved.
6 - Asking owners to keep the team together
Linda Foggie, senior vice president and head of the New York office for professional services firm Turner & Townsend, encourages talking to owners about considering shouldering the carrying costs of any in-place teams. Doing so during a prolonged shutdown helps preserve the institutional project knowledge that’s been developed on a job. This makes it so much easier to keep the team together.
7 - Preparing for the time when construction returns
When the pandemic is brought under control, both consumers and companies expect construction to come roaring back.
Anirban Basu stated that there will likely be an escalation of work sometime next year. With so many projects being postponed, at some point a significant volume of projects will restart.
If all those jobs come on the market at once, we will need to know how to manage them and how to get enough workers to complete the jobs.
Editor's note: This is, indeed, a confusing time for the construction industry. DataBid is working tirelessly to report and distill the news that can help you and your company make the right decisions and keep you up to date on the constant changes as they are made. We hope our coverage brings some clarity amid all the confusion.
