About Christopher Griffiths

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The traits of a successful contractor

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Contractors have a real tough time on today’s market. There are so many challenges to tackle. Short deadlines, increasing costs, difficult clients, demanding employees… The job of a true and a successful contractor is to handle all of these difficulties and risks and to create and build a thriving company. So, what are the traits of a real businessman in the construction business? What skills does he need to have to handle all the problems ahead of him? Keep reading, and we will tell you a little bit more.

p3a Creating a positive work culture

A construction company, and other companies for that matter, needs to have a positive work atmosphere. It is imperative that the employees can work in a work place which celebrates people and their successes. People need to be able to express themselves and to know their co-workers so they can work productively. The job of the CEO is to allow a little bit of laughter in the office because it builds a good vibe and increases productivity.

Develop employees

A good company cannot rely on the abilities of a single person. A good contractor will know how to recognize talent and expertise and gather the right personnel around him. Success comes as a result of hard work, discipline, and effort and a contractor needs to develop these traits in his employees. The game is not only about the head of the company; it is about the team.

p3bUrgency, not emergency

Pushing your employees to work under pressure is ok, it creates a sense of responsibility and discipline. Of course, a true leader will know how to create a great team which handles urgent situations with ease. He needs to let them know he expects performance within the designated deadlines.

Incentives

Money is a very good motivator. A good incentives strategy will often give excellent results. But it is not always only about money. There is a multitude of strategies to employ, from company cars to educational trips. Which one a contractor employs, it is up to him.

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How to recognize a successful contractor?

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The construction business is a big sea with a lot of fish. Big or small, they come in various sizes and shapes. And often it is very difficult to recognize a true professional before you hire him. Of course, once you sign the contract, there is no turning back, and you still cannot know what to expect. A successful contractor is usually a true professional, a businessman who works with expertise, experience, and passion for his work. Here we will tell you about a few tips on how to recognize a contractor like that.

contr12Have a vision

Apparently, a person who desires success has to have a goal in front of him. It may be the single most important character trait a truly successful contractor must have. The owner of a company needs to see the path in front of him and the goal at the end of the road. He needs to understand what kind of a company he is building and where does he want to be in the future.

Leadership

This trait is very similar, but not the same as having a vision. A leader is a person who encourages others to do their best, do continuously develop and upgrade their skills. A leader deserves respect because he creates a business culture in the company.

contr1Continuous education

A real businessman never gives up learning. He continuously pushes himself and his employees to learn about new trends and developments in their area, so that they can be more successful in the future. A contractor has to organize monthly education sessions or training days. These few hours can mean all the difference on the unforgiving market.

Cross-training

It is never wise to be a simple one-trick pony. Diversity is crucial for success, especially in highly demanding modern markets. Employees with a variety of skills can cover many professional challenges and bring additional value to do company.

Communication

A key factor to success. A real contractor will know how to approach every single one of his employees, how to motivate them, how to understand their problems and how to push them to work just a little bit more efficient.

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Health and safety in construction business

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Are UK constructions sites dangerous?

As a result of rigid health and safety rules and laws UK construction is considered amongst one of the safest in the world. But anyway statistic is showing not very good results. Big numbers include musculoskeletal disorders, illness, cases of poisoning and other types of injuries. It is embraced that often accidents cannot be predicted, so the best solution is for every company to cover every possibility of it.

Safety first

Danger1Many of employers are still unaware of their obligation of care and safety for their employees, clients or visitors. Excavations and trenching on construction site are considered one of the common risks leading to big accidents.  Assuring best protective gears and equipment should keep it less risky. Electricity works as one of the greatest threats can be better handled for example by staying at a safe distance from power lines which should always be isolated in a best possible way.

Ladders, stairways, high working places all connected to threats like falling and tripping should be covered with the best training of staff and ensured by quality equipment. Heavy construction equipment accidents are almost every day problem, from ordinary buckets and tool parts to moving construction vehicles accidents. All companies should provide construction safety guidelines which workers must obey.

asdSite hazards

Noise as one of the major hazards in the form of repetitive and extreme factor may cause long-term hearing problems. Also, may cause other accidents in the way of distraction.Vibration hand arm syndrome is a painful biological disease of the blood vessels, joints, and nerves. Usually is a result of working for a long time with inappropriate and low-quality equipment.

The construction site is a huge mixture of microscopic, subtle, toxic materials and fibers in the form of finest dust. This threat can lead to a great lung damage and diseases such as asthma. Best protection would be that provided protective equipment is used as it should be on the field. Workers should always have eyes on the back of their head and try to prevent those threats by using knowledge from training and education for the field. Employers, on the other hand, have to make sure to establish best possible safety standards.