It is not the first time that the construction industry has faced a natural disaster. However, the current disaster involving the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting the industry at its core. This is the case because construction workers are fearing their safety, which is why more and more workers insist on staying at home. Even in times of hurricanes and floods, construction firms would suffer material damage and close the site until everything the disaster is over – construction workers will be back in no time. But, how to manage construction projects during the COVID-19 outbreak when workers are fearing this dangerous infection?
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Construction Moratorium and Indefinite Delays in Project Completion
Aside from facing issues with a shortage of labor and the general shortage in supplies and essential materials, construction firms in some counties and states are facing more uncertainties. For starters, many of these construction firms are nor sure whether their projects will be subjected to a moratorium or canceled indefinitely due to COVID-19 infection. In case a construction company is forced to close their sites as “non-essential” construction, there are some safety measures to be taken. That means that all firms need to make sure that their construction sites have been closed responsibly and safely.
What to Do in Case Your Construction Site is Subjected to a Shutdown?
In case a construction firm needs to shut down all on-site operations such as the case in New York City for non-essential construction, there are ways to make sure that the project is managed properly. In these circumstances as you need to shut down construction projects, all sites need to be closed properly and with safety precautions taken seriously. To avoid additional costs and losses, all equipment and tools need to be locked and stored safely. All construction sites need to be secured in a way to protect the firm from the theft of essential materials. Investing in a quality surveillance system would cut potential costs of losing equipment and materials, or getting the construction site vandalized.
How is the COVID-19 pandemic affecting construction projects?
As BRIQUP, we are talking to industry professionals from different perspectives. Here are some insights from Construction Management Professional Miresh Chaudhari how construction is affected by COVID-19:
As we all know that the coronavirus disease advances across the United States, various industries including construction continues to be impacted.
– It is affecting because workers are not able to work on sites and thus it halts the ongoing working of the project.
– Its creating anxiety among workers.
– There’s shortage of materials in the market and also due to local Government shutdown.
– We can also see COVID-19 is affecting construction due to a lack of specialty contractors like mechanical and electrical workers, could cause additional disruption because they are not as easily replaceable and many states have rigid licensing laws. For eg: California as they have rigid policies.
– Its also affecting due to Quarantines and travel bans.
– Legal issues as virus was unforeseeable, the contractors are responsible for delays or cost overruns on current projects.
