Category: Construction & building

Safety Challenges in the Construction Industry

Although safety should always come first, it is an area that continues to pose significant threats to the development of the construction industry. Compared to other sectors, the construction industry is one of the riskiest with lots of hazards that can easily cause injuries to workers, property damage, and project delays. Nevertheless, the following are some of the key safety challenges in the construction industry. 

Poor Working Conditions 

On most occasions, construction workers perform under harsh conditions that not only threaten their health but, also productivity. Although most people often think that poor working conditions only result from bad weather and environmental conditions, some construction activities such as working on high altitudes, underwater, and deep excavations can also contribute to high-risk work conditions. The presence of hazardous substances like asbestos on construction sites can also cause unfavorable working conditions. 

Protection of Human Lives 

Construction activities are usually labor-intensive and, require several people to complete. Due to the labor shortages experienced in the construction industry, some contractors are understaffed. That means builders are overworked, leaving them vulnerable to accidents and other mistakes on the worksite. Sometimes, workers are also forced to perform certain risky tasks without the right tools and safety gear. 

Inadequate Safety Training 

Ensuring safety in construction sites requires that all the workers are properly trained on how to identify the common risks and mitigate them on-site. Besides, proper safety training should also involve educating workers on how to safely operate certain high-risk machinery. Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the CDC has also outlined specific safety measures that workers should also be enlightened to ensure public safety. However, a majority of construction laborers are still not fully aware of those requirements, which make them vulnerable to injuries and other risks on work sites. 

Generally, the construction industry faces a series of safety challenges. Some of them result from events beyond human control but, most of the safety issues currently experienced in the construction industry can be easily prevented. To do that, builders should take time to understand the scope of their projects and adhere to the stipulated safety regulations for the construction sector. …

Summer Construction Safety Tips

You know the dangers of building a house during the summer. Your construction workers are at a higher risk of suffering heat-related illnesses like heat stroke and exhaustion. However, you can take certain measures to ensure that your workers do not suffer from these illnesses. Here are the safety tips for construction workers during the summer that you should follow. 


Provide Adequate Water Supply 

Ensuring that your construction site has adequate water supply is a great way to protect your workers from heat illnesses. Make sure that every worker can easily get water to ensure that they take hydration breaks more often. Keeping the body hydrated will prevent overheating. 

Stay Healthy 

Eating healthy, lighter meals will keep a construction worker from feeling hungry. For instance, a construction worker can eat fruit and a sandwich instead of French fries and greasy burgers. What’s more, construction workers should maintain a good physical shape. This will enable the body to deal with extreme temperatures. It’s crucial to note that underlying health issues and excess body fat can lead to faster overheating of the body. 

Get Adequate Sleep 

Getting adequate sleep will keep the body healthy. But, quality sleep is difficult to get during hot weather. Therefore, pay attention to your sleeping environment. You can use a fan to ensure that your room remains cooler throughout the night. Also, set adequate time aside for sleeping. 

Take Breaks 

Taking breaks frequently ensures that the body doesn’t reach high temperatures. Thus, the body doesn’t reach a point where it can’t cool down. What’s more, taking frequent breaks equips the body to deal with heat properly. 

Dress Properly 

You have to wear garments that are approved for construction sites for safety purposes. However, choose lightweight apparel that ensures your safety during the summer. Ideal garments should have higher breathability while preventing heat from being trapped close to the skin. 

In addition to these tips, make sure that every construction worker knows the risks associated with the summer heat. This will ensure that they report any discomfort or illness they develop at the construction site. 

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The Pros and Cons of Building a Home

Building a home comes with advantages and disadvantages. While building a home can allow you to personalize it according to your needs, it can be expensive, stressful, and time-consuming. 

To be prepared for both great and ugly surprises along the journey of building a home, it’s important to familiarize yourself with a few upsides and downsides of building a house. After this article, you should be able to make an informed decision on whether you should proceed to build a home or not. 

Pros 

  1. You design it according to your preferences  

Building a home gives you control of all the features, preferences, and options to be included in the house. It’s highly unlikely to find a house in the market that meets your needs fully – that’s why most people opt to build a home instead of buying. 

Even if an already built home can be cheaper, it steals the joy of living in the house of your dreams – unless you are planning to renovate it to meet your needs. 

  1. Qualify guarantee 

Since you’ll be involved in the complete construction process, you’ll be able to ascertain that the house is built with quality materials. Sometimes it can be harder to determine the quality of materials used in a pre-existing home. Furthermore, self-building will give you the option to install eco-friendly materials and energy-saving features that will save you money in the long-term.

  1. Time freedom 

When building your home, no one will be rushing you to finish the construction process at a specific time. You can take a few months or years as you wish. On the other hand, when buying a house, you may be required to pay for it within a specified time. 

  1. Savings 

 You can save a lot of time and money by building a house over buying an existing home. This is because you’ll only put the features and options that suit your needs. As well, no money is wasted on features or designs that you don’t need. Furthermore, you can get bonuses and discounts from your suppliers and contractors, therefore saving money. 

Disadvantages

  1. It can be expensive – cost not fixed 

When building a house, unforeseen expenses can arise, especially if you hadn’t planned your budget well. Sometimes you may need extra labor, materials, or legal fees, which you may not have planned for. This can be a very devastating experience, especially if the additional costs exceed 30% of the initial budget. 

  1. Time-consuming 

Building a home will take months to years to complete, unlike buying a house, which can take as little as days. Sometimes you may get further delays due to bad weather, legal approvals, and lack of funds. 

  1. Strenuous 

If you’re building your home, you may want to be involved with the day to day activities of the construction to ensure that it meets your requirements. This can be a very stressful and overwhelming process, especially if you aren’t up to the task.

  1. A lot of paperwork 

When buying a new home, only a little paperwork is needed. Building a house, on the other hand, requires more than just your payslips and bank account information. You’ll need construction-related documentation such as legal permits, contractors contract, insurance, building plan, and much more. 

Conclusion 

While there are both upsides and downsides of building a home, the upside surpasses it all. Building a home is indeed a rewarding experience that everyone should enjoy.