MANAGING PROJECTS
TODAY
FEATURE
Pushing hard on site prep and safety
Here ’ s a big question ……… Can proper site preparation for an asphalt paving project and strict adherence to safety protocols drive costs down and make employees happy ? Big is an understatement . There ’ s a lot to that question . “ This starts well in advance ,” stated Brian Hall , territory sales manager / asphalt training specialist at LeeBoy , Lincolnton , North Carolina . “ A quick survey of the jobsite will quickly determine if there are any pitfalls . to be prepared for . Some of these may include traffic concerns , entrance and exit for your machinery or possibly any areas that may need to be coned off for safety of the traveling public . Tackling these tasks on the day of the job can lead to oversites and open your company up for dangerous results . “ Communication among all involved in the project is crucial . “ This is somewhat of an open-ended question since commencement for a paving job is totally different then crack sealing ,” said Gary Goldman , Gary S . Goldman & Associates , The Contractors Consultant , Sherborn , Massachusetts . “ When estimating the job anything out of the ordinary scope of work should be noted . Communication between the sales , contract administration , and operations teams in most situations would red flag any work that needs to be completed prior to the start date ( in a
By Jeff Winke
smaller company this may mean that the owner has to make a few trips out to the site and / or communicate with the client ). Those companies with good processes and SOPS ( Standard Operating Procedures ) usually have these situations under control .” Having things under control will ensure that safety procedures are being followed on a jobsite . “ Worksite safety is paramount in our industry ,” stated Mark McLeod , president and CEO , Maintenance Jnc ., Wooster , Ohio . “ Depending on the type and location of the project , contractors should be aware that the driving public does not understand that your crews may at times be in the path of vehicles , trucks , and bikes . You need to make sure your job site is properly blocked off to give the crew a protected , safer worker environment . “ McLeod continued , “ Every contractor has a routine and should have practices in place to ensure that the crew is aware of new traffic patterns and directional changes to the flow when they occur , since employing common sense by the driving public is at times questionable .” Safety is important for workers and the general public as well . “ Most experienced contractors will agree that having a representative in charge of site inspection ( Such as your quality control manager ) will ensure that each job pre-inspection is completed
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