Avoiding the 5 Most Common Jobsite Mistakes
You’ve probably heard the phrase at least once in your professional life, recognizing it as advice that holds especially true for contractors: “Work smarter, not harder.”
When you need to complete a construction project on time, on budget and with work that exceeds expectations, you have little room for error. The best way to avoid costly, time-consuming mistakes is to plan well, plan thoroughly and to make sure the heavy equipment you and your crew depend upon is up to the task.
For a long time — over seventy years, in fact — the Bobcat® brand has been synonymous with innovation, efficiency and excellence. As makers of durable, reliable and in-demand compact construction equipment, Bobcat knows a thing or two about best practices — the ones to which the most successful contractors adhere. Read on to learn how you can manage some of the most common issues that create trouble on the jobsite.
Insufficient safety standards
Unfortunately, avoidable accidents top the list of mistakes that can cause a construction project to come to a grinding halt. These accidents are often rooted in improper training. That includes not staying up-to-date on what it takes to comply with continually changing government (OSHA) regulations.
To complicate matters further, your workforce probably varies from job to job, requiring you to make frequent investments in training for new workers. It is important to view this expense as an investment, not a nuisance.
Giving your crew members the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves on the job and keep themselves safe is paramount. Doing so is not only good project management (you are working on deadlines, after all), but it also makes sound business sense. Days lost to injury translates into reduced productivity. Finally, well-trained workers help you more effectively control your liability. If your crew is creating dangerous working conditions, then your clients are at risk as well.
Permits
Nothing can delay a construction project like failing to secure the proper building permits. Before you break ground, you and your client must clearly establish responsibilities in this area.
Which permits are required before work can begin? Who will apply for the proper permits? How much lead time will that party need to gather the necessary paperwork? How long does it take for the permits to be issued? Where and how are they to be displayed publicly? Unless you can answer these questions during the planning phase, your project timeline isn’t complete — or executable.
Not using the right machinery
There’s no better way to work smarter than by using the proper equipment for the job. When you need to dig a drainage ditch in a tight space, for instance, you need a compact excavator. When you need to declutter a job site and do it while traversing rough terrain, nothing other than a track loader will do. If you’ve got tons of brick, stone, lumber or other building materials to haul and not much time to do it, a skid-steer loaders can handle the job. These machines are built specifically for such jobs and can get them done quickly.
However, construction equipment is of limited use to you if you don’t have the right operators for it. You need to employ adequately trained and certified operators. If you entrust the use of the right equipment to the right people, you can rest assured you won’t be confronted with do-over after do-over.
Not maintaining your heavy equipment
In order to avoid significant downtime on the job, you need your machinery to work as designed. Once you make an investment in a piece of equipment, it will last you for many years if you properly maintain and service it as necessary.
Maintenance starts with reading your equipment’s owner’s manual. The reading may not be light, but it will provide you with a firm grasp of your vehicle’s recommended weight load limits and suitability in certain conditions. The manual, if it has been well-written, should also give you broad insight into the standard longevity of specific parts, when they should be replaced and how.
From there, basic equipment care is in order. Make sure your tires are always in good condition and that moving-parts are always well-lubricated. Don’t let mud, soot, grime and other substances accumulate on your equipment’s surfaces. Keep your equipment clean to avoid corrosion and to ensure the proper functioning of its most essential mechanisms.
Finally, know your limits. If you have the slightest doubt about performance or a fix you don’t feel comfortable making yourself, consult an expert technician. Their help can be the difference between preventive measures and all-out repair or replacement.
Using outdated equipment
Even though American-made construction equipment is built to last, there still comes a time where it needs to be replaced. As technology advances, so too do our tools. And that translates into more savings on labor and time. Older equipment that can’t compete with the functionality or efficiencies offered by newer models usually ends up being a hindrance, not a help. That’s especially true if your older equipment needs to be coddled or nursed along to accomplish anything at all.
As always, the return you should be seeking from your investment in construction equipment should be lower costs, quicker turnaround times and an increase to both your capacities and capabilities. Stay on top of the latest advances and give yourself opportunities to assess which new features might be useful to you. Also, keep track of your repair costs. If they become regular expenses or start to approach a specific figure, it might be time to enter the market for new equipment. Your budget will reveal all.
Visit Your Local Bobcat Dealership Today
No one knows construction equipment or construction equipment maintenance better than Compact Construction Equipment LLC , your home for Bobcat equipment, parts and service in Texas. We offer contractors the state’s most extensive inventory of Bobcat equipment, as well as factory certified technicians and all of the parts and attachments you need to work smarter.
Give us a call at 855-480-7368 or stop by any of our Texas showrooms — conveniently located in Abilene, Alamo (the Rio Grande Valley), Amarillo, Austin, Buda, Corpus Christi, Kerrville, Lubbock, Marble Falls, Marion, Midland-Odessa, Pleasanton, San Antonio, Temple, Victoria, Waco, and Wichita Falls — today.