Infrastructure Risk SIG Darren Mullan, CFIRM, Former Chair Obviously, the specific risks facing each construction project will depend on the nature, size and location of the project but, in general, three key risks will include: 1. Productivity Whether construction projects have been able to continue during the current Covid–19 crisis, or intend to recommence at some stage in the future, productivity will be affected for some time into the future. This reduced productivity may be caused by: > Reduced workforces being allowed onto to the construction site > Constraints on how staff access/egress, or move about within, the construction site > How welfare and canteen facilities are used > The introduction of different working practices to maintain social distancing The key area of uncertainty, and thus challenge for the construction projects, will be the understanding of and acting on: > The degree to which productivity is affected across different parts of the site/project > How long this impact will last > Probably most importantly, who will be liable for the cost and time consequences of both the impact itself and the recovery plan 2.
Supply of equipment, plant and materials
A second key risk will be the obvious disruption caused to the supply of construction equipment, plant and materials - especially as more and more of the construction supply chain is global. These problems could by caused by a number of potential issues anywhere across the end-to-end supply chain; for example the manufacturing factory may be shut due to local government regulations, maybe the goods are be sitting in a seaport or airport which has been similarly shut down, or maybe the equipment is still on a previous construction site and has not been released. Again the key challenge for the construction project will be to: > Accurately understand and forecast when current orders for delayed equipment, plant and materials will arrive > Explore potential mitigation, such as re-sequencing construction activities > Consider the potential for a Covid–19 ‘second wave’ and the need to pull future orders early, increase equipment leases, or increase local inventory levels for critical materials > Agree a revised Programme, and how to deal with potential extensions of time and who pays for any additional mitigation actions
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