Construction Today - Vol 21 Issue 4 | Page 24

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continued momentum of projects because the individuals leaving these jobs are not being replaced by a new , younger group of workers . These staffing concerns have led to teams that are spread too thin and often overworked to complete tasks in the allotted time frames . Furthermore , it is extremely difficult to prepare for unexpected events that cause project delays or additional work because these companies are already inadequately staffed .
Additionally , inclement weather conditions including heavy rain , snow , sleet , frigid and exceedingly high temperatures , high winds , hurricanes , tornadoes , wildfires , and more create hazards that threaten job site safety . In addition to causing disruptions in the project momentum , these events impact visibility on job sites and create barriers to the production of quality work , delaying processes until further notice .
Supply chain delays and ongoing increases in material costs have also placed more pressure on construction teams and impacted worker safety . Both factors are actually closely tied to inclement weather , as the market changes depending on the ability to acquire and ship materials . For example , droughts or flooding that occur near major shipping routes can result in delivery delays and an increase in prices , which in turn can place increased pressure on budgets and make it difficult for contractors to hire more employees when necessary . Consequently , this can result in smaller teams of overburdened workers who are expected to work extra hours and take on tasks that they may not be properly trained to do , which puts their safety at risk .
When left unaddressed , these obstacles can snowball into dangerous incidents and large issues that can result in workplace injuries , delayed projects , and in some cases , reputation damage that can haunt an organization for years to come .
Leveraging ConTech to optimize schedules and prioritize worker safety
Although so many factors are out of the direct control of contractors , modernizing ConTech to optimize workflows and the way they plan , and schedule projects can help prioritize worker safety . With strategic implementation , new digital construction technology can help contractors solve a multitude of problems . Thanks to recent developments in these technologies , project schedules have evolved far beyond a simple timeline of tasks . Now , they can be used as an effective tool to manage safety risks on job sites . The capabilities new technology provides enables teams to develop comprehensive plans that also boost visibility into complex projects .
In addition to increased visibility and safety , benefits of new ConTech solutions include course correction , a single source of truth , and a better , more intuitive dashboard that makes it easy for teams to analyze important data to fine-tune scheduling and planning efforts . This allows teams to create , analyze , and update schedules to reflect changes in plans while also adhering to important safety guidelines .
When properly optimized with new ConTech , construction schedules can facilitate strategic planning , sequence tasks , allocate resources , and more . As a result , teams can identify and reduce safety risks on job sites , protecting both employees and a company ’ s overall success .
Real world application
A recent case study from R & H Construction , one of the largest commercial construction companies in the Northwest , highlighted that the use of a new scheduling solution resulted in the ability to consistently produce 25 percent higher quality preconstruction schedules as well as a significant improvement in job site safety . By
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