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Real Estate

Seven Tips to Ensure a Safe Working Environment on a Construction Site

November 18, 2022

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It is your duty as a business owner to encourage a secure work environment and make sure your employees avoid avoidable mishaps and injuries. Employees enjoy working in an environment free of accidents and injuries since it increases their output and morale. But regrettably, accidents at work happen often these days, regardless of the type of organization.

In fact, according to the BLS, businesses reported more than 2.8 million non-fatal injuries and occupational illnesses in 2017. This suggests that there are three occupational injuries for every 100 employees.

That said, these accidents and injuries happen when workers disregard safety guidelines. Although each industry has its own safety regulations that employees must abide by, accidents seem to occur more frequently in the construction sector.

A simple Google search reveals that more than 40,000 workers are hurt yearly because of falling in Canada. As dynamic as the country is, as more and more construction projects are initiated, the percentage of workers getting injured, feeling pain, or suffering from substance-related illnesses increases.

Knowing how strict labor laws are in Canada, it would be ideal if you carefully safeguard on-site employees. With that in mind, here are a few tips.

Provide Safety Gear to Workers

Unexpected incidents and unknown safety risks are common at construction sites. Therefore, giving your construction site workers the most recent safety gear and equipment makes sense to guarantee they remain as safe and secure as possible.

Ultimately, something as simple as searching online for prescription safety glasses Canada on any popular search engine will help provide the best eye safety gear for your workers to avoid unwanted eye damage.

Hard hats, eye protection, three-point harnesses, and hearing protection are some of the necessary safety equipment workers need. Moreover, things like heavy-duty gloves, gas masks, slip-resistant steel-toe boots, and clothing for workers should also be provided to ensure their safety.

Communicate with On-Site Workers

Your construction employees’ safety and security depend on effective communication. Workers at a building site must be constantly alert to potential health concerns and other external dangers. Therefore, it is essential to encourage employees to share information with management regarding areas of the safety plan that need to be changed. Additionally, they must be urged to report any prospective places that pose a health risk.

Inspect Tools and Equipment Regularly

Heavy machinery and equipment are necessary for construction workers to do their work quickly and successfully. It is extremely dangerous if construction equipment breaks down during operation as it can cause limb loss or, in extreme situations, death.

According to OSHA, failing machinery and equipment are to blame for around 75% of construction site accidents.

Construction organizations can prevent failure and malfunction by doing routine inspections and maintenance on their heavy machinery and construction equipment. Additionally, routinely maintained equipment will operate more effectively and guarantee that your building project is completed ahead of schedule.

Inspect the Construction Site Thoroughly

A construction company’s responsibility is to assess a construction site thoroughly to find any potential dangers or hazards before beginning any project. When creating your safety plan, you may consider all factors by identifying these safety risks and hazards and the possible accidents they might cause.

Therefore, this will prevent occupational risks and accidents from happening when you least expect them. Plus, doing so will also allow you to devise an emergency response plan if a worker suffers from a life-threatening construction-related injury.

Once you’ve done that, give this plan to your workers and instruct them to carry it with them at all times. They will be able to deal with problems as they come up while keeping an eye out for dangers in certain parts of the construction site.

Use Signage to Warn Workers of Potential Dangers and Hazards

Construction site engineers should direct project managers to place warning signs near high-voltage cables and other places where electrocution could occur. On the other hand, power must be turned off in certain areas until personnel finishes any task that requires them to be in a location with a greater risk of electrocution.

Project managers, contractors, and owners must fence off these regions using pylons, ropes, and obstacles to prevent workers from entering high-risk zones unnecessarily. When attempting to keep the building site as safe as possible for your workers, posting signs stating “Risk of Fall” or “Danger” is an excellent idea to ensure workers know what they’re getting into.

Give Regular Breaks to On-Site Workers

Working on a construction site requires a lot of physical effort. Sadly, construction workers are not superhumans and are susceptible to stress and exhaustion like everyone else. As a result, project managers and contractors should provide their on-site employees with frequent breaks, whether it be a 15-minute rest period to stretch or an hour-long lunch break to relax and fuel up.

Nevertheless, some on-site employees might desire to use their break to generate extra income. Therefore, it is your duty as the owner to encourage them to take a break and rest their bodies. The probability of dangers and mishaps will significantly decrease by doing something like this!

Evaluate Construction Site Workers Before Hiring Them

When trying to prevent accidents and injuries, knowing if your on-site staff has the professional expertise and physical capability to do construction-related jobs safely and effectively will go a long way. For example, work on a construction site is typically more physically demanding than other types of work. Therefore, you must assess candidates before hiring them.

You must ensure your on-site workers are in top mental and physical shape if the job description calls for them to undertake demanding jobs, operate large machinery, or be exposed to hazardous substances and chemicals. This is probably the best construction site safety advice anyone can give you!

The Final Words

Unfortunately, accidents and injuries in the construction industry will always occur, either due to your negligence or a worker’s. Nevertheless, you must take the necessary precautions to keep your on-site workers as far away from these accident-prone places as possible.

Furthermore, you must also be prepared to provide workers with the treatment they need to get back on their feet if they suffer an injury. After all, happy employees will work more productively and guarantee that your construction project remains on schedule.

Home Improvement

Seven Tips to Ensure Your Construction Project Goes Smoothly

October 26, 2022

Chloe Taylor

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A construction site is a wild place to work, and it entails planning and organization to keep projects on schedule, within your budget, and ensure the safety of everyone on-site. As the construction industry is constantly progressing, finding a balance between everything you can do to make your project successful is challenging.

Although there is a fine line between completing your project successfully and efficiently, in almost every scenario, being efficient with resources, time and money are vital. With that in mind, we have compiled some tips to ensure your construction project moves without hassles.

Budgeting Efficiently

Construction project managers frequently overspend their budgets, and because of that, you must keep your budget in mind, cover all of the costs and stretch it as much as possible so you don’t go overboard. Make your budget realistic and anticipate additional unforeseen costs. It would help if you found a reliable supplier willing to work within your budget.

Set daily targets for every Team member

Setting daily targets for individual team members to achieve will help to establish a clear understanding of what is expected from everyone. Once a list of tasks and instructions is given, and everyone is on the same page, there will be less ambiguity, and it will be easier to avoid mistakes and experience setbacks.

Moreover, to increase the productivity of the workers who are putting in hours after hours of manual labor, you can provide incentives like free meals and drinks after work whenever daily targets are met; this will help to increase productivity at work.

On-site Office and Storage Facility

A safe space for project managers, office staff, and other necessary personnel involved in project planning and other administrative tasks is needed. A ventilated and equipped area for the accommodation and storage of paperwork, tools, and equipment is necessary to avoid damage and loss.

In these circumstances, a shipping container purchase would be an excellent idea. It can serve as a restroom for construction crew which will help them work in harsh environments.

Second, give proper safety training, especially if the workers are working at high heights, and training to use machinery safely is also crucial to avoid minor or major injuries. Finally, use clear signs and posters for potential dangers like falling objects, gas, and chemicals to make everyone more cautious and avoid accidents.

Practice good communication and build relationships

Maintain a good flow of communication with your team and investors; avoiding mistakes, confusion, and surprises is vital. Being open to suggestions and ideas and responding appropriately to complaints will help you to build transparency within the team which is essential to gain trust and to maintain a good relationship with the team.

Spending time with your team apart from work will help you to connect with them, and treating everyone equally is also crucial, so no one feels left out. That does not mean you should lose your assertive edge, be a team player and get things done.

Use a 3D model to calculate QTO (Quantity Takeoffs)

If you want to make plans, calculations, and drawings, you should eliminate old tools like pens and paper. Switch to a 3D model to help you gather valuable data. Create a comprehensive construction design covering all the information you and your team will need to complete your project impeccably.

This will help you calculate your quantity takeoffs and the correct material required. You will also be able to play different approaches, like using a different material for the same area to complete your project and choose the most efficient one.

Construction Site Safety

You mustn’t compromise the safety of your workers to save costs. There are several ways you can ensure everyone’s safety, First, invest in appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) like helmets, goggles, footwear, etc.

Automate repetitive processes

Time is of the essence for any construction project. Automating repetitive and monotonous tasks can save you and your crew time. Automation can also help you reduce the risk of injuries by taking on riskier jobs and providing more precision in work.

One such example of automation is the use of flying drones to perform surveillance duties. Another example is project management solutions which help you assign tasks, give reminders, announce, and help you track the project’s progress.

The time saved from automating processes can be used to exercise critical thinking and creatively find solutions for other problems.

Conclusion

To effectively complete your construction project, you can follow some simple tips. You can use a shipping container as an office, storage, and rest space, as it is crucial to protect the equipment and paperwork from harm and theft.

Try not to go overboard with your budget; it is important to get a reliable supplier who can work within your budget and always expect unforeseen costs. Moreover, setting daily tasks for everyone will help to clear out any ambiguities and avoid setbacks.

This is important; never compromise the safety of your workers. Please provide them with protective gear and training for safety, especially while using machinery. Keeping the flow of communication is vital so there is transparency and everyone is on the same page. This will also help you to build a better relationship with everyone.

Using a 3D model to design your construction plan is more effective as it lets you experiment and calculate quantity takeoffs. Automating riskier and tedious processes will speed them up and provide more precision.

Therefore, having a great team and being a good leader will always get you great results, even though construction work can sometimes be challenging. Following the tips we mentioned will help ensure your construction project goes smoothly.

Interior Décor

The Importance of Interior Design In Restaurants

April 19, 2022

Chloe Taylor

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Every restaurant tells a story through its interior design and architectural elements. No matter what the theme of your restaurant is, or what kind of food you serve, you have to pay attention to the design and try and match it. The appearance of the restaurant is crucial to your brand and it will be an integral part of your marketing strategy, too. As soon as someone enters your restaurant the first thing to notice is the interior design and that’s when the first impression comes in. Based on that, they will decide whether they will sit and dine or just leave.

Architecture and Design

This is a critical component of the overall interior design of your restaurant. You should pay attention to the way you are going to arrange and actualize the features of the interior and this is critical to determining the overall look and feel of your business. The layout will most certainly impact the customer experience and that is why you have to be careful when considering the layout and decoration of all the features.

Lighting

Lighting is almost the most important element of the design. If your lighting is poor, then it doesn’t matter how much effort you put into the layout, seating, decorations, etc. Without lighting, there is no impact and there is no ambient. That is why you will have to have several sources of light.

Besides overhead lighting, you will also need ambient lighting. This will provide the feel and definite the overall appearance of your restaurant. It will characterize your business and it will be something to identify the restaurant. So, if you have an elegant and more relaxed idea in mind, the ambient lighting should be quiet, and vice versa.

Another type of lighting to consider is task lighting. This one will be used for specific tasks. For example, you will need lights that allow servers to do their job and customers to read the menus. Place this type of lighting strategically so it won’t interfere with other sources of light.

Lastly, you will need accent light for more ornamental purposes. Also, consider wall lighting for accent lights since they provide a better feel and decorate the walls.

Seating

You can never neglect the seating, the materials you use, and its arrangement. The type of seating you want to choose should influence the psychology of your customers and their experience. Take fast-food places, for example, they have seats that are comfy, but not those that would want you to sit on for a longer period of time. So, decide how long and how comfy and relaxed your customers should be and choose the seating accordingly.
Also, consider the theme of your restaurant. If you are opening a fine dining restaurant, you want your seats to be comfy, cozy, warm, and relaxing since people will sit at your place for a longer time. Also, if you have a restaurant on the beach, you can’t use such seating because it would become way too hot way too fast. That is why you can rely on wooden chairs and tables with some cushions for padding just like the new restaurant in Bayshore did. This provides a relaxed atmosphere and air to flow around the place nicely.

The Colors

Believe it or not, colors are crucial to interior design. When you are deciding on the colors you wish to feature, consider your brand, its colors, and your desired customer base. Also, specific colors can elicit different emotions and moods in different people. For example, warm colors like red and orange are powerful stimulants and that is why a lot of restaurants try to include them. But, make sure not to overdo it so the interior won’t look too busy.

On the other hand, blue has a suppressive effect and it can soothe and calm the diner and people will tend to order less food. And for more elegant solutions you can use both blue and turquoise colors to create a sense of royalty and elegance.

Scent

Last but not least, pay attention to the scents inside the restaurant. If you use the right ones, you can enhance your food sales. If you want to stimulate appetites, make sure to allow the smells from the kitchen to seep into the interior. So, opt for an open kitchen layout or regulate airflow in a similar fashion. Also, you can use artificial smells to elicit different emotional responses from your customers.

The interior design of a restaurant has many different elements. And all those elements should work together in your favor to create the desired effect, brand, and atmosphere. So, when designing the restaurant, make sure to pay attention to all these elements and your success is halfway done.

Uncategorized

Commercial Construction Trends That Are Changing the Industry

March 16, 2018

Mike Johnston

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Even though it may seem as something inflexible, the commercial construction industry is affected by various outside factors. We are talking about issues like economic fluctuations, climate changes, new technologies and job markets. This being said, here are a few commercial construction trends that will continue to shape the industry in 2017.

Green practices are the next big thing

While some people still deny the impact human behaviour has on our climate, going green is still one of the most important trends in the construction business. We are talking about the use of power-saving techniques, low-power machinery and even the increased use of eco-friendly materials in the process. Overall, the three greatest trends here are the so-called LEED certification, eco-friendly building materials and, of course, net-zero energy building. Each of these represents a massive leap forward in raising environmental awareness and boosting commercial construction.

The labor shortage is a huge problem

One of the greatest problems construction industry is currently facing is the imminent labor shortage. Even with the unstable job market, millennials still remain mostly uninterested in this field. One of the reasons this is so is due to the fact that there is a lack of technical training in schools. The problems are even greater with the skilled labor force, because they are getting more and more valuable by the minute. In the end, all of this mostly results in longer project schedules and heftier payrolls for those who do decide to try their hand in this industry. Unfortunately, with the current state of the economy, this particular problem isn’t likely to go away anytime soon.

The Internet of Things is slowly entering the market

In 2017 almost everyone knows with the Internet of Things is, but what exactly does this entail in the construction business? First of all, it allows for a better landscape survey, aided with drone technology, employee tracking and various other high-tech means of collecting information. One of the greatest boosts this can give to the industry is that of increased safety. You see, not every area of the construction site can be considered a safe zone, which means that various forms of wearables may increase the personal safety of construction workers. Finally, all the information gathered this way might, over time, become invaluable data that will elevate the industry to a whole new level.

VR and AR are ready for their grand entrance

With the help of VR and AR gadgets, architects and designers might get a better insight in their project in its planning stage. Imagine a situation where an architect can ‘walk’ through their building long before its construction starts. This way, many hidden flaws may be discovered in time which can save a fortune. Seeing how the shortage of labor and necessity for using eco-friendly materials may raise the overall cost of construction, this might help level the field.

3D printers

Finally, one of the things everyone keeps talking about these days is the impact of 3D printers on the construction industry. Namely, in a recent experiment, a huge 3D printer was able to build a house in under 24 hours. To make things even more astonishing, it did so at a cost of under $10,000. This being said, it is more than clear that these devices have a huge potential of both completely revolutionizing the commercial construction industry and solving a mortgage crisis. Nonetheless, whether or not it lives up to its full potential in the future remains to be seen.

While each of these trends may be vital to the commercial construction business as we know it, not every one of them is about to play an equal part in its development. At this point, we can only speculate which trends are going to take lead in the next several years.

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