From hard labour to project management, all these job positions need to work in alignment to ensure the construction project is completed successfully. The numerous important roles in a construction project opens up various career possibilities in construction. We have created a guide on the general and specialised skills you need to pursue a prosperous career in construction. When it comes to skilfully using a Baumax concrete mixer on a construction site, B&S Commercial Power has you covered with our advice from the expert team.
General Skills You Need to Work in Construction:
Construction careers come with unique challenges, benefits, and rewards. To enjoy a successful career in the construction industry, there are a few key personal skills that you will need. We have created a general guide on the basic skills you need to perform well in construction work.
1) Physical Strength and Endurance:
Construction work requires intensive labour and long hours. From lifting bags of cement to digging to carrying steel reinforcement bars to operating heavy machinery, construction work requires physical work constantly. Physical strength is, therefore, an important quality for construction workers to be able to maintain the level of work required and successfully complete daily tasks.
Construction work also tends to be repetitive, as subcontractors will be hired for every construction project to perform specific jobs on the construction site. Being able to consistently perform physically straining tasks well is critical for a construction career. The repetitive nature of construction work, therefore, requires a combination of strength and endurance to ensure the successful completion of the construction project.
2) Communication:
Communication is a critical skill that is required of every member of a construction team. From construction managers to civil engineers to subcontractors, there are numerous construction workers involved in a construction project. Every member of the overall construction team needs to be in clear communication with one another to ensure the successful completion of the construction project.
As a construction worker, you will need to be able to communicate with your team on the next steps that need to be taken in the current phase of the plumbing, electrical installation, demolition, or other construction jobs. You will also need to be able to voice any questions you have to the construction managers to make sure you clearly understand the next steps. Clear communication is also critical when you need to explain a problem that has occurred so that the next best actions can take place.
Communication is also a critical skill required of construction managers. As a construction manager, you will need to clearly communicate directions to the rest of the team. Any miscommunication will result in errors that could be fatal, costly, or time-consuming. You will also need to communicate progress and any possible problems to the clients to ensure that everyone understands what is happening at each stage of the construction project process.
3) Problem-solving Skills:
From errors caused by miscommunication to construction machine damages to mistakes in the building, construction projects generally face numerous problems throughout the entire construction process. While problems are common, they still need to be handled efficiently and effectively to avoid any major costs or threats to health and safety. The ability to think quickly, clearly, and make a decision that will provide a solution to the present problem is, therefore, a critical skill for construction workers across the entire team.
4) Self-management:
With construction work comes various hazards that threaten the health and safety of the construction workers. Negligence to wear personal protective equipment, poor management of operating machines, and exposure to toxic chemicals can all place construction works at risk of strain, injury, or fatalities. Consistent management of construction projects is therefore highly important.
While constant supervision is critical for all construction projects to reduce the health and safety risks present at a construction site, construction workers also need to be able to self-manage themselves. Construction workers need to be able to assess whether they are equipped with adequate skills and knowledge to safely and successfully perform tasks that they are required by construction managers to do. Construction workers also need to self-manage to ensure that they are always acting in a way that does not place themselves or others at risk on the construction site.
5) Team-player:
Construction projects are not completed by individuals, but rather by numerous teams that work symbiotically towards the mutual goal of a successful construction project. Each team needs to be comprised of construction workers that can work together confidently and cohesively to complete tasks properly and safely. Any unnecessary disagreements or uncoordinated actions within the construction team can have devastating consequences for the construction project. Being a team player is, therefore, a critical skill for any career in construction.
6) Willingness to Learn:
The construction industry is continuously evolving as new methods, techniques, job requirements, and power tools are formed. To be successful in the construction industry, you need to have a continuous willingness to learn to stay on top of the constant changes. This personal characteristic is also beneficial as you will continuously improve your skills and will be eligible to move up to senior positions within the construction team.
Specialised Skills You Need to Work in Construction:
We have created a guide to the specialised skills you will need to work in construction.
1) Power Tools:
Power tools are essential for construction projects. Power tools reduce the time, effort, and energy that is spent on tasks and thus speed up the completion of the construction project while decreasing the physical strain placed on construction workers. With the various power tools used at construction sites comes a host of risks. We have highlighted the various ways using power tools on a construction site can become hazardous for construction workers.
Incorrect Power Tool: Construction workers need to have an understanding of specific power tools so that they use the correct power tools for the job requirements. Using the incorrect power tool or incompatible power tool accessories can result in damages to the power tool which can become expensive or result in injuries to the power tool operator.
Unsafe Operations: From overloading a concrete mixer to not wearing ear protection when using a band saw, there are various ways that power tools can be used in unsafe ways that place the construction worker at risk of injuries. Additionally, continuing to operate a power tool that is demonstrating technical failures such as fumes, smoke, or sparks also places the construction worker’s safety at risk.
Incorrect Environment: Operating a power tool in an incorrect environment can have devastating consequences. For example, using electrical power tools in wet conditions can lead to electrocution, refuelling a power tool in a confined space can lead to toxic fume inhalation, or using a welding iron around a dusty construction space can lead to an explosion. It is essential that power tools are used in suitable environments for safety.
Construction workers, therefore, need to be equipped with specialised skills in operating the specific power tools they will use for each aspect of the construction project. Construction workers need to be trained on the dangers of power tools and then act in ways that avoid any risks to their safety or the safety of other construction workers.
2) Materials:
Construction projects involve numerous materials for the completion of the project. From concrete to steel reinforcement bars to structural beams, construction workers need to be able to accurately identify the specific materials needed for each aspect of the construction project and use the materials correctly. Incorrect use of materials will result in technical issues, safety problems, and will impair the completion of the construction project.
3) Training and Experience:
Every member of a construction team will need to have relevant qualifications, training, and experience to perform their specific role in a construction project. From the quantity surveyors to the masonry workers to the plumbers, each specific aspect of the construction project will require individuals with specialised training and experience. The technical skills required by each member of the construction project will be determined by the unique career followed within the construction industry.
Concrete Mixer Advice at B&S Commercial Power:
B&S Commercial Power not only supplies a wide range of high-performance power tools but also training and advice on the efficient and safe use of the supplied power tools. When it comes to using concrete mixers on a construction site, we can offer you expert advice on the use of our supplied Baumax concrete mixers. The B&S Commercial Power team has over 100 years of experience in the power tool industry, making us the best source of advice for optimal performance and maintenance for your concrete mixers for construction projects.
B&S Commercial Power is dedicated to ensuring that you receive power tools, advice, and training of the highest quality. We host regular training workshops from our main manufacturers that will guide, train, and assist you in the effective use of your selected power tools. From quality power tools to expert advice, B&S Commercial Power is your total solution to your construction project needs.
Concrete Mixers from B&S Commercial Power:
B&S Commercial Power supplies a range of Baumax concrete mixers that are perfectly suited for use on construction sites. The high-performance and exceptional mixing speed of the Baumax concrete mixers make it easy work of mixing concrete for a construction project. The portable Baumax concrete mixers are easy to move around the construction site, delivering perfectly mixed concrete to the exact location you need.
We understand that different size construction projects require varying quantities of mixed concrete. This is why at B&S Commercial Power, you will find Baumax concrete mixers with three different drum sizes. We offer the Baumax BS360L Concrete Mixer, the Baumax BS400L Concrete Mixer, and the Baumax BS500L Concrete Mixer to ensure that you can have access to Baumax concrete mixers perfectly suited to your construction project requirements.
We can supply our Baumax concrete mixers to any location in Southern Africa. Whether you need concrete mixers for a construction project in Cape Town, Mpumalanga, Gaborone, or Harare, our reliable delivery service will get the concrete mixers to you. With B&S Commercial Power, all your needs are covered with receiving high-quality concrete mixers for your construction project.
Concrete mixers are essential for any construction company; therefore, we strive to provide you with high-value concrete mixers that your business budget can handle. You can enjoy the perks of reduced effort, labour, and time that it takes to mix concrete in a concrete mixer with our exceptional deals. With B&S Commercial Power, you have access to internationally-manufactured Baumax concrete mixers at affordable rates.
Establish the skills you need to work in construction with our guide and know how to use Baumax concrete mixers with B&S Commercial power expert advice.