If you’re looking into starting your own construction business, concrete mixers are a must-have. There are many things to keep in mind, such as what equipment and staff you will need to run a successful construction company. Mixers are important for efficiency and allow you to mix your concrete onsite.

 

Contact our team of experts at BS Power to find the best equipment for your construction business. We will ensure that you are equipped with all the necessary equipment to run your business effectively. Continue reading to find out what equipment and staff you will need to run a successful construction company.

 

Concrete Mixers: How Do Construction Sites Function Safely?

 

If you wish to start your construction company, everything needs to function optimally to ensure success. There are a few vital steps that must be followed to make sure that construction sites are both safe and functional. Take a look through these 10 steps to make sure that your construction business is safe and successful.

 

• Clear and precise communication. For any business, communication is important. Your business will not be successful if your employees are unsure about what is happening. Communicate with all your employees and provide regular updates.
• Set realistic objectives for your employees. Most construction work cannot be completed in a week or two, it takes time. Establish daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals. Your employees should have a clear plan to follow each day.
• Take stock of all your materials at the end of each day. Your construction project will experience setbacks if you run out of materials. When the construction project starts, you should have enough materials available to complete a week’s worth of construction if not more.
• Working in the construction industry can be exhausting. Your employees work for hours trying to finish construction projects. One way that you can boost productivity and keep their spirits high would be by rewarding employees for good work.
• To ensure that your construction site runs optimally, all your employees need to be trained properly. This is also another way you can boost productivity. Your employees should be trained based on their tasks or roles in the project.
• If your employees present any concerns to you, listen to them. Any good manager will listen to their employees and consider the needs of their employees. Employees often know first-hand experience with what is not working on construction sites.
• Ensure you have a clear plan before starting work on a construction project. This plan should have a detailed outline of how the project will be completed. As you progress through the plan, keep things up to date.
• Construction sites can easily become messy and unorganised. Debris from mixers may end up all over the construction site. Clutter may lead to people tripping and hurting themselves. Keep construction sites clean to avoid accidents.
• Ensure that you hire a reliable and well-trained manager. A well-trained manager will help increase productivity. Employees will work well with managers that are reasonable and who communicate well.
• Discuss each day’s goals with your employees before the start of the workday. You could have meetings with your staff before the start of each day to ensure that all the staff know the objectives for the day.

 

 

 

All 10 of these points will ensure that your construction site functions optimally and that all your staff know exactly what is going on each day. An optimally functioning construction site will help ensure success.

 

Concrete Mixers: Important Jobs on Construction Sites

 

All the staff that work on construction sites play important roles in the success of any construction business. However, a few key roles are vital to the functioning of construction sites.

 

1. Each project that a construction company works on will be different including the workers and contractors. All the people working on construction projects will vary depending on the requirements of each project. The different key roles include:
2. The construction foreman is responsible for coordinating work in the order of most importance, creating work schedules and keeping track of crew attendance, and allocating crew daily responsibilities.
3. Site managers know all the details of the project. Their role focuses on planning and coordinating resources, making sure that everyone on site communicates clearly, keeping track of the progress being made and putting together reports for clients.
4. The roles of engineers on construction sites are to design, manage and plan each project. They are required to use computer modelling software and data to advise clients regarding what the best plan is. They also create the blueprints needed for projects.
5. Architects and designers are needed to design the desired structures or design renovations for existing structures. They will often use 3D model design software to design the structures.
6. Surveyors are important as they give clients professional advice regarding construction matters. They will provide advice about building measures, and quality checks, and assess damage for insurance and legal purposes.
7. Construction operatives have different roles on a construction site. Construction operatives are needed to prepare the ground for the project, drive heavy machinery, construct scaffolding, move materials, and ensure work is being done.
8. Skilled tradespeople include many different job roles. Skilled tradespeople include carpenters, bricklayers, painters, plumbers, fitters and decorators. Many different skilled tradespeople are needed for construction projects to run successfully.

 

 

 

What Are the Roles and Responsibilities of a Construction Foreman?

 

A construction foreman takes on the responsibility of overseeing the daily operations on construction sites. This is done to make sure that all projects are completed as efficiently as possible.

 

The duties of a construction foreman include hiring qualified tradespeople and construction workers, keeping track of expenses, and going over laws by managing safety on each site and making sure all safety regulations are maintained.

 

Construction foremen are required to supervise and fix any problems that happen on construction sites. They need to manage and adjust work schedules based on weather conditions and when employees are required to work.

 

Furthermore, they also look for necessary supplies and ensure that all the necessary materials are delivered on time so that there are always materials on hand. It is important to ensure that materials never run out.

 

If there are not enough materials or if they run out before the completion of the project, this may cause problems. This may lead to the project being forced to take a break and the completion of the project may have to be pushed back.

 

Working in the construction industry is far from easy, it is time-consuming and requires attention to detail. A professional and hardworking construction foreman continually plans for their staff to work toward success.

 

A good construction foreman provides his staff with clear and precise instructions regarding what they need to do and ensures that the staff are fully trained. This ensures that every person on the construction site knows exactly what is needed from them.

 

Equipment Needed on Construction Sites

 

Now that you are aware of what staff you will need for your construction company, the next step is to know what equipment you will need. There are many different types of equipment you will need. Here is a quick list of some of the most important construction equipment to have at your disposal:

 

 

 

• Hand drills are needed for everyday operations. They are used to drill holes in different materials and can be used to bind things together. These tools are very useful.
• Portable concrete mixers provide construction sites with freshly made concrete in short periods. This machinery saves time and money, and they help increase efficiency.
• Nail guns are used to force nails through wood a lot faster than using a hammer. Nail guns are often used in home construction and renovations. They maximise efficiency as workers do not have to waste time hammering nails.
• Bump cutters are used to flatten surfaces of wet concrete. This removes any bumps or unwanted textures. This tool is used after the concrete is poured from the mixers.
• Floats are used to prevent edges, indents, or holes after using bump cutters. Floats are flat tools that move over surfaces to ensure that everything is smooth and removes water from concrete.
• Brick trowels are pointed tools that spread mortar over blocks and bricks. These tools are used to keep bricks in place. The tool is also used to pick up the mortar with the pointy side, the mortar may then be evenly spread.

 

 

• Wheelbarrows are often used to move concrete from the mixers to where it is needed on the construction site. They are also used to move various other materials and equipment.
• Shovels are often used on construction sites to remove concrete from wheelbarrows or to mix concrete if there are no concrete mixers on-site. Shovels are also commonly used to dig holes on smaller construction sites.
• Ladders are often used due to them being cost-effective and they are easy to use. Ladders can easily be moved around, and no extravagant set-up is needed to use them.

 

Contact B&S Commercial Power to speak to one of our trained staff members. We will help you differentiate between our concrete mixers and find which one will work the best for your construction site.

 

Concrete Mixers: Health and Safety Concerns on Construction Sites

 

Construction sites can be dangerous. To reduce any potential safety risk, it is vital for everyone on the construction site to be aware of health and safety concerns. A few of the health and safety issues on construction sites include the following:

 

Moving machines and materials. Construction sites can become very busy with different machinery moving materials around. Every construction site should have plans and barriers in place to separate plant operations.

 

Harmful substances and materials. Construction workers should wear PPE to prevent exposure to harmful dust and toxic substances that may occur while working with concrete mixers. Appropriate safety gear such as PPE will prevent these harmful substances from affecting airways, eyes and skin.

 

 

 

Trip hazards. Construction sites should be kept as tidy as possible. Materials that have been left lying around as well as any uneven ground may result in people tripping and injuring themselves.

 

Height concerns. Working at height often goes hand in hand with construction. Height concerns include falling tools and other materials. Staff should be properly trained to prevent injury, and all scaffolding must be secure.

 

Noise. Appropriate ear protection and training are necessary to avoid injury and strain while there is a lot of noise on the site. Loud machinery may result in workers communicating ineffectively which may lead to accidents.

 

Physical strain and manual handling. All staff should be trained to move and lift heavy materials while using and without mechanical lifts. This will reduce accidents that often occur due to ineffective manual handling.

 

Risk of collapse. Incomplete construction work can be at risk of collapsing. Planning and precautionary measures may prevent accidents. If demolitions are necessary, they should only be carried out by trained professionals.

 

Electricity. Construction workers are at risk while working above or below cables and power lines. Additionally, concrete mixers that require electricity to work must be handled with care and electrical cables must be kept away from water.