Property&Build: October 2021 - January 2022

Page 73

October 2021 - January 2022

The return to work under Alert Level 3 saw thousands of construction businesses breathe a sigh of relief, made possible by assurance to the government that the industry was able to do so safely by following the Covid-19 construction protocols. The first lockdown last year saw vertical and commercial businesses in the construction industry combine to form a steering group, with Site Safe playing a key role, to develop the Covid-19 construction protocols. This set of documents lays out the processes that construction businesses must adhere to under the different Alert Levels. It’s not a pure science, however. The considerations: organise your finances, communicate and support your team Firstly, ensure your finances are in order. Making sure you have a strong grasp of your financial position is the first step to navigating uncertain times. It’s vital that you know your hourly rate in order to remain solvent and to pay your staff appropriately. You also need to know what your overheads are so when you are pricing work for a customer, you will end up with a healthy profit margin. If you don’t know how to work it out yourself, ask your accountant or financial advisor, or lean on the bevvy of resources and tools out there to automate functions like invoicing and payroll. That being said, it’s vital to have the money conversation with your customers right off the bat. Start pricing your work immediately and require your customers to pay a deposit upfront. Be sure to set a clear payment schedule and timeline for invoices. You should also have your terms of trade signed and

Brett Murray, Site Safe Chief Executive, says that the protocols are changing in tune with the nature of working in Covid-19. Pete Lockhart, Naylor Love Construction General Manager, says the key to the protocols’ success is a combination of health and safety expertise from the industry along with Site Safe’s practical knowledge of the industry, particularly education, helping to create a document that is easy to understand and apply. “It has been fantastic to see the cooperation from all parts of our industry. All those involved have worked to ensure the document works for everyone and we’re proud

register a PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register) against the property. If the customer won’t pay a deposit or sign off on your terms, you know they aren’t a customer you want to work with. Secondly, communicate. Your customers have also been feeling the strain of the pandemic, and may not necessarily know what work is and isn’t allowed under lockdown rules. When talking to customers, make sure to be transparent on the status of their job and what is and isn’t possible under current restrictions. You also need to reassure your customers that you will take the necessary safety precautions if you’re working on their premises, as they may not know what they are. Pay close attention to how customers want to communicate with you, as it may have changed during the pandemic. While lockdowns are still in place, it’s best to talk to customers remotely rather than face-to-face whenever possible. One silver lining of the pandemic is that contrac-

to be part of the discussion and its creation. Having people on the front lines involved means the results are more practical and can be more easily implemented on-site. “Under the higher Alert Levels, working on-site is quite different to what we’d normally see, but the extra effort is more than worth it when you consider the alternatives available. “At the end of the day, keeping our workers safe as well as others they interact with under these conditions is paramount. We can use the protocols to do this, while maintaining the ability of businesses in construction to stay working.”

tors can be more selective about the jobs they take on and who they work with. Now is a perfect time to reassess your customer base and focus on the type of business you want to build. Reliable customers will translate into a more engaged workforce and therefore less staff turnover. And finally, support your team. If you run your own business, chances are your staff will be just as lost as you are when the business world is so volatile. Communicate your strategy for the pandemic to staff, explain why it’s the best course of action and how you can work together to make it happen. Employees and co-workers are likely struggling with the mental weight of

lockdowns too. Schedule regular check-ins with staff and make sure not just to talk about work, put measures in place to support the well-being and mental health of those around you. The light at the end of the lockdown tunnel is drawing closer, but it’s likely we’ll still feel the impact of these lockdowns for years to come. If you’re struggling to cope with the strain of lockdowns, know that there are resources available so you don’t need to bear the weight by yourself. Getting a handle on your financial position and supporting your co-workers and customers will go a long way in helping the construction industry return to normalcy. Dan Pollard launched Fergus in 2014. Having done the hard yards as a plumber for over 20 years, Dan was determined to come up with an easier way to manage the end-to-end operations of his trades business. fergus.com

infrastructurenews.co.nz 73

CONSTRUCTION

Protocols key to keep construction working during pandemic


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook

Articles inside

The fight for common sense and a reasoned debate

3min
pages 82-84

Transmission Gully - what went wrong?

11min
pages 74-77

Australian construction industry cries out for reform

4min
pages 66-67

The New Zealand Upgrade Programme cost blowout

10min
pages 78-81

In search of the perfect surface - contractor invents new earth compactor

2min
pages 68-69

How scalable data centres help Mainfreight’s vision

2min
page 73

Multi-purpose, safer, faster telehandlers increase productivity

3min
pages 64-65

Immigration policies hindering construction sector

6min
pages 70-72

AC Filter - an engineered solution protecting worker health

1min
page 63

Latest lockdown puts ongoing strain on construction

6min
pages 61-62

Is standardised training the way forward?

2min
pages 57-60

Priming your business for post-lockdown recovery

4min
pages 48-49

Surviving as a modern business

4min
pages 52-53

Homebrew 1080 poison hospitalises worker

2min
page 56

Tips and myths around dogs

2min
pages 46-47

Chemical safety relies on meaningful cooperation

3min
pages 54-55

Safety app a crucial element in building site safety

2min
page 45

Radio technology keeps workers safe and compliant

1min
page 44

Bastion NZ launch Industrial glove range

1min
pages 36-37

Has your fuel gone off?

5min
pages 32-33

Remote working putting organisations at risk

2min
page 38

Unlearning misguided muscle training

6min
pages 42-43

Industry leader in soft fall protection on construction sites

2min
page 41

Toxic fumigant banned

3min
pages 34-35

No better investment than chemical safety training

3min
page 31

Critical infrastructure vulnerable to hackers

5min
pages 39-40

Tax changes threaten rental market

4min
pages 14-15

New Zealand's housing crisis a breach of human rights

9min
pages 16-19

Kiwi Property kick starts build-to-rent in New Zealand

2min
pages 24-25

China builds apartment block in a day

1min
page 23

Where is housing most affordable in New Zealand?

6min
pages 8-9

Facilities management with personal service

3min
pages 4-7

Site Safe Awards finalists announced

1min
page 3

3D-printed housing

6min
pages 20-22
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.