Prevents Expensive Lawsuits – Another reason to comply with construction laws is that it prevents expensive lawsuits. There are several protocols to be followed in a construction business or building industry to avoid mishaps and accidents. For instance, fire protection standards must be observed.
Contents
- 1 What are the importance of building?
- 2 Why public building is important?
- 3 What laws affect construction?
- 4 What is the meaning of construction law?
- 5 Are building regulations the law?
- 6 Are the Dutch Good builders?
- 7 Is it still cheaper to build your own house?
- 8 What is the most important part of a building?
What are the importance of building?
Short visual history of architectural styles (from left to right): the Ishtar Gate ( Mesopotamian ), the Temple of Isis from Philae ( Ancient Egyptian ), the Maison Carrée ( Greco – Roman ), the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple ( Indian ), the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests of the Temple of Heaven ( Chinese ), the Basilica of San Vitale ( Byzantine ), Badshahi Mosque ( Islamic ), the Durham Cathedral ( Romanesque ), Sainte-Chapelle ( Gothic ), the Tempietto ( Renaissance ), Château de Maisons ( Baroque ), boiserie from the Hôtel de Varengeville ( Rococo ), the Petit Trianon ( Neoclassical ), the CEC Palace ( Beaux-Arts ), the Castel Béranger ( Art Nouveau ), the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées ( Art Deco ), the Fagus Factory ( Modern ), the Vienna University of Economics and Business Library and Learning Center ( Contemporary ) A building, or edifice, is an enclosed structure with a roof and walls standing more or less permanently in one place, such as a house or factory (although there’s also portable buildings).
- Buildings come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and functions, and have been adapted throughout history for a wide number of factors, from building materials available, to weather conditions, land prices, ground conditions, specific uses, prestige, and aesthetic reasons.
- To better understand the term building compare the list of nonbuilding structures,
Buildings serve several societal needs – primarily as shelter from weather, security, living space, privacy, to store belongings, and to comfortably live and work. A building as a shelter represents a physical division of the human habitat (a place of comfort and safety) and the outside (a place that at times may be harsh and harmful).
What is Construction Law in UK?
What is construction law? – The area of construction law deals with matters such as infrastructure, housing, planning permissions and construction and engineering. The key to understanding construction law is that it has two main categories: non-contentious and contentious.
Below is a brief overview of construction law and its branches. Non-contentious work involves negotiating contracts and general procurement which happens before construction begins. Construction lawyers work with the people who are initiating the project, the people financing it, the architects and the companies doing the actual construction.
Construction law becomes contentious when something goes wrong. The contracts drawn up at the procurement stage set out how disputes should be dealt with. In an effort to minimise costs, they are usually resolved through adjudication or arbitration, but if a case goes to court, a specialist barrister from the construction Bar would be appointed to advocate.
What are the local building bye laws?
Legally abiding, building bye laws are the construction norms set by the government authorities to ensure uniform development and protect buildings against internal and external hazards.
Why public building is important?
Public buildings are important both socially and economically to a downtown area. Municipal office buildings, courthouses, libraries and post offices are essential components of healthy downtowns. These facilities draw many employees and users of public services who are likely to spend money at downtown businesses.
What laws affect construction?
Construction law is a branch of law that deals with matters relating to building construction, engineering, and related fields. It is in essence an amalgam of contract law, commercial law, planning law, employment law and tort, Construction law covers a wide range of legal issues including contract, negligence, bonds and bonding, guarantees and sureties, liens and other security interests, tendering, construction claims, and related consultancy contracts.
What is the main aim of the construction regulations?
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 Whatever your in construction, CDM aims to improve health and safety in the industry by helping you to:
sensibly plan the work so the risks involved are managed from start to finish have the right people for the right job at the right time cooperate and coordinate your work with others have the right information about the risks and how they are being managed communicate this information effectively to those who need to know consult and engage with workers about the risks and how they are being managed
HSE has published that supports CDM 2015 and explains it in more detail. : The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
What is the meaning of construction law?
DEFINITIONS1. the area of law dealing with all aspects of planning, financing and regulating buildings and engineering projects. Synonyms and related words. The law, laws and parts of laws. act.
Are building regulations the law?
Non-compliance with the building regulations – Breach of the building regulations is a criminal offence and action may be taken under Section 35 of the Building Act 1984 against a person who contravenes them. If convicted, that person can be fined up to £5,000 for each offence, and may also have to pay a daily fine if the default continues after conviction.
pull down or remove any work contravening the regulations bring the work into compliance with the regulations.
Rather than take action for a breach of the regulations, we prefer people to work with us to achieve compliance. Formal enforcement action is usually taken as a last resort.
What laws are made about the construction of new building?
1. Making Construction Projects – 1.1 What are the standard types of construction contract in your jurisdiction? Do you have: (i) any contracts which place both design and construction obligations upon contractors; (ii) any forms of design-only contract; and/or (iii) any arrangement known as management contracting, with one main managing contractor and with the construction work done by a series of package contractors? ( NB For ease of reference throughout the chapter, we refer to “construction contracts” as an abbreviation for construction and engineering contracts.) The construction industry in India does not entirely subscribe to any one standard form.
Some commonly used forms are heavily influenced by the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (“FIDIC”), the Institution of Civil Engineers (“ICE”), and the model published by the Indian Institute of Architects (“IIA”). The construction industry is driven by the Government as the Employer/Owner (directly or indirectly).
Management contracts are prevalent but the owner will usually look at a single point of responsibility under the lead consortium member.1.2 How prevalent is collaborative contracting (e.g. alliance contracting and partnering) in your jurisdiction? To the extent applicable, what forms of collaborative contracts are commonly used? Collaborative contracting is common in the real estate sector in India, where the landowner and real estate developer enter into a joint development agreement.
The formats have evolved through industry usage and practice, keeping in mind the role of the statutory regulator. Normally, the landowner provides the land and all other responsibilities fall on the developer.1.3 What industry standard forms of construction contract are most commonly used in your jurisdiction? Please see the answer to question 1.1.1.4 Are there any standard forms of construction contract that are used on projects involving public works? The authority responsible for public works is the Central Public Works Department at the national level, and the State Public Works Departments operate at the state level.
The Central Public Works Department has released several General Conditions of Contract for engineering, procurement and construction (“EPC”) contracts and construction works. The public-private partnership (“PPP”) model is common in the development of large and complex infrastructure projects.
The Government has issued guidelines and Model Concession Agreements for various projects, specifically for the purposes of the road, airport, railway and ports sectors, among others. The modes of contracting regularly employed by government organisations include Build-Own-Operate, Build-Operate-Transfer, Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer, etc.
Standard contracts provided by the FIDIC are often used for large infrastructure projects.1.5 What (if any) legal requirements are there to create a legally binding contract (e.g. in common law jurisdictions, offer, acceptance, consideration and intention to create legal relations are usually required)? Are there any mandatory law requirements which need to be reflected in a construction contract (e.g.
provision for adjudication or any need for the contract to be evidenced in writing)? The Indian law of contracts is codified (Indian Contract Act, 1872). It is largely based on English Common Law. For any binding contract to come into existence, there should be an agreement between two or more parties who are competent to contract, and the parties must have entered into the agreement with their free consent, for a lawful consideration and a lawful object.
These requirements are mandated by the Act (Section 10). Further, rudimentary requirements of a valid offer, followed by an acceptance of an offer, with the intention of entering into a legally enforceable agreement not void in law, are other essentials of a valid contract.
The Indian Contract Act recognises common law doctrines, including recognising implied terms and contra proferentem,1.6 In your jurisdiction please identify whether there is a concept of what is known as a “letter of intent”, in which an employer can give either a legally binding or non-legally binding indication of willingness either to enter into a contract later or to commit itself to meet certain costs to be incurred by the contractor whether or not a full contract is ever concluded.
The legal position in India as regards a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) is well settled and can be understood while referring to the common law principle to the effect that an agreement “to enter into an agreement” does not create any legal relation between parties, nor is it legally enforceable before a court of law.
An LOI merely indicates a party’s intention to enter into a contract with the other party in the future. Normally, it is an agreement to “enter into an agreement” which, as mentioned above, is neither enforceable nor does it confer any contractual rights upon the parties. However, depending on their wording, some aspects of an LOI may contain binding obligations – confidentiality, exclusivity of dealings and governing law/jurisdiction, amongst others, may create such obligations.
In certain circumstances, an LOI may be construed as a letter of acceptance of the offer resulting in a concluded contract between the parties. It largely depends on the intention of the parties that can be drawn from the terms of the LOI, the nature of the transaction and other relevant circumstances.
- If parties have acted on an LOI (as if there is a binding obligation), it can be held as constituting a binding contract between them.
- In India, a binding contract can also result from conduct alone.1.7 Are there any statutory or standard types of insurance which it would be commonplace or compulsory to have in place when carrying out construction work? For example, is there employer’s liability insurance for contractors in respect of death and personal injury, or is there a requirement for the contractor to have contractors’ all-risk insurance? The standard type of insurance policy opted for by the employer, contractor or a sub-contractor separately or jointly is the Contractor’s All Risk Policy (“CAR Policy”).
All major construction contract projects expressly provide that a CAR policy must be put in place during the construction stage. Federal legislation requires any business, including construction projects, employing more than 10 people, to procure registration under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 (“ESI Act”).
Presently, the ESI Act mandates every employer to provide for its workers’ insurance. The said Act covers both workers employed directly under an employer and through a contractor. The insurance procured by an employer/contractor under the mandate of the ESI Act covers contingencies such as maternity leave, sickness, temporary or permanent physical disablement, or death owing to the hazards of employment, which may lead to loss of wages and earning capacity of an employee.
Recently, the Indian Parliament passed regulations which were intended to be implemented in April 2021, but have been deferred. These include: the Code on Wages, 2019; the Code on Social Security, 2020; the Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2020; and the Industrial Relations Code, 2020.
- A wide range of pre-existing labour laws have been amalgamated and/or modified in the new regulations.
- The Code on Social Security, 2020 inter alia proposes to simplify, amalgamate and replace the existing central labour legislation, including the ESI Act.
- Chapter IV of the Code requires the employer to pay the employer’s and the employee’s contribution in respect of every employee, whether directly employed by him or by a contractor.
It is applicable to every establishment in which 10 or more employees are employed. Benefits such as sickness, maternity benefits, payment arising out of employment injury, medical benefits, funeral expenses or disablement are covered under the Code. Notably, through this Code, social security has for the first time been extended to workers in the unorganised sector, which includes contract workers.
It further mandates every employer (except those belonging to, or under the control of, the Central Government or a State Government) to obtain compulsory insurance for his liability for payment towards gratuity from any insurance company.1.8 Are there any statutory requirements in relation to construction contracts in terms of: (a) labour (i.e.
the legal status of those working on site as employees or as self-employed sub-contractors); (b) tax (payment of income tax of employees); and/or (c) health and safety? The following are some of the statutory requirements which must be complied with: (a) General Requirements : As stated above, all construction contracts must satisfy the requirements of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 to be legally enforceable.
- There are no statutory requirements specifically in relation to construction contracts.
- B) Labour : All employers and contractors are required to comply with the relevant labour legislation in force in India or in the state/city concerned.
- The onus of complying with such labour laws falls upon an employer or a contractor, depending on the legislation.
Labourers (workmen) are afforded legal recognition through the definition of the word “workman” under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (Federal legislation), which entitles them to various statutory benefits and fair treatment at the hands of their employer/contractor.
- Further, the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 must be complied with by any principal employer/contractor who hires 20 or more contract labourers for an “establishment”.
- The said Act requires the principal employer to register its establishment in accordance with the Act, whereas all such contractors must obtain a licence from the authorised licensing authority specified in the Act.
In order to regulate the condition of service of inter-state (migrant) labourers, the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 requires all contractors who employ five or more inter-state migrant workmen to register themselves.
- It aims to protect and/or provide a migrant worker’s right to equal wages, displacement allowance, home journey allowance, medical facilities, etc.
- The Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923 requires compensation be paid to workers if injured in the course of employment, as per a minimum guaranteed schedule.
Under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the employer is required to pay the minimum wage rates as may be fixed by the relevant government. Further, the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, read with the Amendment Act, 2017, ensures that the employees receive wages on time and without any unauthorised deductions.
- The Code on Wages, 2019 (“Wages Code”) seeks to consolidate and replace four Acts: the Payment of Wages Act, 1936; the Minimum Wages Act, 1948; the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965; and the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.
- It extends to all establishments, employees and employers unless specifically exempt.
- The Wages Code, inter alia, provides for a national floor rate for wages, which is to be determined by the Central Government after taking into account the minimum living standards.
It further provides for a review of the minimum wages at intervals not exceeding five years. The Codes, however, have not yet been brought into force (see question 1.7 above). (c) Tax : Under the Income Tax Act, 1961, a person responsible for paying any sum to a contractor for carrying out any work (including supply of labour for carrying out any work) is required, at the time of payment, to deduct a tax commonly known as Tax Deducted at Source (“TDS”).
The Works Contract Tax is applicable to contracts for labour, work or service. Prior to 1 July 2017, the Central Government and State Government levied Service Tax and VAT, respectively, on works contracts. However, after the roll-out of the Goods and Services Tax (“GST”), works contracts (in relation to immovable property) are treated as supply of services and, at present, tax slabs range from 5% to 12%.
In the first instance, tax is payable by the person supplying the services/goods. The Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1996, which applies to 10 or more building workers or other construction workers, has been enacted for the welfare of construction workers, including regulating the workers’ safety, health, and other service conditions.
- A cess of 1% is collected from the employer on the cost of construction incurred.
- The Code on Social Security, 2020, once implemented, will mandate the collection of a cess for the purposes of social security and the welfare of building workers at a rate not exceeding 2% but not less than 1% of the cost of construction incurred by an employer.
(See question 1.7 above.) (d) Health and Safety : Social security legislation, such as the Employee’s Compensation Act, 2009, the ESI Act, the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, and the Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prohibition, Prevention and Redressal) Act, 2013, mandatorily applies to all employers and contractors hiring labourers or workmen in the construction industry.
The Code on Social Security, 2020 seeks to amalgamate and replace legislation such as: the Employee’s Compensation Act, 2009; the ESI Act; the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961; the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972; the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952; and the Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prohibition, Prevention and Redressal) Act, 2013.
Further, the Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2020 mandates compliance with the occupational safety and health standards declared under the Code or the rules, regulations, bye-laws or orders made under the Code. (See question 1.7 above.) 1.9 Are there any codes, regulations and/or other statutory requirements in relation to building and fire safety which apply to construction contracts? For every construction project, parties are required to obtain several permits (including environmental permits) from various government departments in order to ensure that the construction is being carried out in a safe manner.
- Contractors and sub-contractors are required to comply with the applicable regulations and good industry practice as stipulated in their agreement.
- In major infrastructure projects, it is common for a safety audit to be required at the design stage and also post-construction, to ensure conformity with safety requirements under the contract.
The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Condition of Services) Act, 1996 was enacted to regulate the employment and conditions of service of building and other construction workers and to provide for their safety, health and welfare.
It applies to any establishment which employs, or in the preceding 12 months employed, 10 or more building workers in any building or other construction work. Section 40 (2) (k) of the Act empowers the “Appropriate Government” to make rules regarding the precautions to be taken in case of a fire. The rules mandate the employer to devise an emergency action plan in case of a fire or explosion, among other related matters.1.10 Is the employer legally permitted to retain part of the purchase price for the works as a retention to be released either in whole or in part when: (a) the works are substantially complete; and/or (b) any agreed defects liability period is complete? Yes.
In construction contracts, provision for retaining part of the purchase price for the given situations is fairly common. Parties may also agree to deposit the purchase price in an escrow account to ensure a level playing field for both the employer and the contractor.
The contract may also provide that the employer, prior to completion of the works, releases the retention money provided the contractor furnishes an unconditional bank guarantee equivalent to the retention money.1.11 Is it permissible/common for there to be performance bonds (provided by banks and others) to guarantee the contractor’s performance? Are there any restrictions on the nature of such bonds? Are there any grounds on which a call on such bonds may be restrained (e.g.
by interim injunction); and, if so, how often is such relief generally granted in your jurisdiction? Would such bonds typically provide for payment on demand (without pre-condition) or only upon default of the contractor? Yes, performance bonds/performance guarantees are commonly stipulated.
Similarly, an employer may require a corporate guarantee from the parent company of the contractor. A bank guarantee is independent of the contract between an employer and a contractor, and normally unconditional. Therefore, unless otherwise provided, a guarantor shall be obliged to unconditionally honour a guarantee as and when called upon by the employer.
The employer normally requires the contractor to keep the performance bank guarantee valid until the defect liability period is over or the completion certificate is issued. The beneficiary of the bank guarantee, i.e. the employer, must make a demand for payment under the bank guarantee, should a need so arise, before expiry of the validity period stipulated in the bank guarantee.
- A demand made by an employer for payment after the validity period will not be honoured by the bank.
- The courts have held that, in order to restrain the encashment of a bank guarantee, there should be a strong prima facie case of fraud or special equities in the form of irretrievable injustice.
- Thus, commitments of banks must be honoured free from interference by the courts.1.12 Is it permissible/common for there to be company guarantees provided to guarantee the performance of subsidiary companies? Are there any restrictions on the nature of such guarantees? Yes.
See question 1.11.1.13 Is it possible and/or usual for contractors to have retention of title rights in relation to goods and supplies used in the works? Is it permissible for contractors to claim that, until they have been paid, they retain title and the right to remove goods and materials supplied from the site? Yes, it is possible.
- Right of lien over goods arises from the contractor’s right to be duly paid for the goods supplied to an employer.
- The existence of right of lien over goods, and the scope of such right, is determined by a contractual clause to that effect.
- Lien over goods whose ownership passes over to an employer upon delivery to, or affixation on, a construction site may exist if contractually provided for.
However, most construction contracts do not provide for the contractor’s title rights to the goods and supplies made for the works.
Are the Dutch Good builders?
The Dutch are known to be the masters of architecture and the use of space. Also known for their out-of the-box-thinking, Dutch architects have exerted more influence on the discipline of art and construction unlike anybody else over time. From the original sober cathedrals to the sleek modern structures, their ideas and designs have spread throughout Europe and beyond.
Dutch architecture has played a vital role in the international discourse of architecture in three different eras. The first was during the golden age (17 th C.E) when the Dutch empire was at the height of its power. The second was during the first half of the 20 th C.E, during the development of modernism,
The third involves the many contemporary Dutch architects who are currently achieving global prestige. Perhaps no other nation has had a bigger influence on contemporary architecture than the Netherlands, Dutch architecture has achieved worldwide recognition and continues to do so with firms like OMA and MVRDV leading the charge.- Keeping that in mind, here are some lesser-known facts about Dutch architecture:
Can you really build a house yourself?
Building a home from scratch can even be a complicated task for industry professionals. Whether it is a starter home, luxury one, or an energy efficient house, missing a small detail can leave the builder in a costly situation to fix the problem. It takes years of expertise, training, and collaboration amongst construction teams so no detail is overlooked and construction progresses as smoothly as possible.
- The details that could be missed may end up costing more than hiring a professional to build your home.
- However, as most people hire house builders to build their homes, there are a select few people who choose to build their own house.
- They decide to be the general contractor, hire subcontractors to perform the work, and take different levels of responsibility during the build.
Some of these individuals choose to do the cleaning, some to save on paint, while others strictly sit back and only manage the subs. Regardless, to build your own home will require a great amount of time invested and a pre-planned list of tasks and procedures that take place during construction.
- The general contractor needs to be prepared, always ready for unforeseen issues, and try to mitigate costs by being ready as possible.
- Finally, as a home building expert, having an outline of the construction process of a home will make the build progress smoothly and efficiently.
- That is why this article is dedicated to individuals who choose to build their own home as it summarizes the entire process.
This article will tell you when to hire trades, when to call subcontractors back in, timeframes of different jobs, when to order material, and ultimately how to build your own home. There may be some tasks you can do yourself, but only by understanding the complete processes of building a home you can then decide what to do on your own.
Is it still cheaper to build your own house?
Is it cheaper to build or buy a house? As a rule of thumb, it’s cheaper to buy a house than to build one. Building a new home costs $34,000 more, on average, than purchasing an existing home. The median cost of new construction was $449,000 in May 2022.
Why construction safety is very important?
In today’s world, construction projects face numerous safety challenges. Any project, whether it’s a commercial construction site, a public infrastructure project, or a residential construction, should always prioritise safety. Construction workers have a higher fatality rate than other workers in the business.
According to OSHA, construction industry accounted for almost 20% (1,061) of worker fatalities in private industry in calendar year 2019, accounting for one out of every five worker deaths. In 2017, 381 out of 971 deaths in construction were attributed to “falls,” accounting for 39.2 percent of all deaths.
In 2017, 80 out of 971 deaths, or 8.2 percent of all deaths, occurred as a result of construction workers being struck by an object. Employee safety is a shared responsibility: For all construction employees, safety should always take precedence. While on the job site or at work, it’s vital to follow all safety laws and regulations, as well as any additional precautions that may be relevant to the job.
- Every employee who works on a working construction site is responsible for receiving safety training.
- As construction sites are indeed dangerous places, it’s vital to stay safe at all times.
- This article highlights some of the most common construction site hazards as well as how to prevent them.
- Why a Safety person is important in the construction field? Workers’ and the general public’s safety is just as vital as the quality of the work.
Every day, construction workers are at danger of injury. While workers’ compensation programmes do an outstanding job of delivering payments to injured workers, they are unable to safeguard them from injuries, therefore appointing safety professionals would aid in building a safe atmosphere for them.
- Construction sites must have a sufficient number of safety workers on site as part of this process, as their proper abilities will ensure that employees do duties safely and efficiently.
- Safety professionals operate in a wide range of industries, including construction, healthcare, manufacturing, and information technology, and others, as they prepare, implement, and maintain safe working conditions to keep people safe from accidents, injuries, and illnesses.
They achieve this by recommending job safety analysis tools, conducting workplace inspections, providing training on safe work processes, equipment, and technology, addressing unsafe workplace behaviours, and conducting audits to assess the effectiveness of policies and procedures, etc.
- Also, the safety professional’s responsibility is critical in ensuring that the proper precautions are taken and that all stakeholders follow them.
- A safety specialist will also be involved in monitoring procedure compliance, identifying potential hazards, risks, and other difficulties, and finding solutions to them.
Duties of a Safety professional in construction Safety:
- As a safety specialist, he or she would conduct extensive research on worksite issues and identify potential hazards.
- A safety specialist would seek for ways to a. keep personnel safe from workplace accidents, b. prevent fires and explosions, and c. find the best ways to avoid falls and injuries when working at heights.
- A safety expert will ensure that your building site is safe for you and your coworkers in general
- Would continuously monitor and update risk assessment documents and verify issues are solved; track, update and solve if there are any new risks identified in the workplace
Why construction safety training is important? Safety training is the responsibility of every person who works in an operating construction site. First and foremost, it’s important to save lives and prevent injuries, harm etc. from workplace. Furthermore, a safety training and compliance are critical to any company’s success and survival.
Construction worker safety training and education has been shown to reduce injury rates. These kind of initiatives have been demonstrated to minimise injuries by nearly 50 per cent. Training is the best way to get all workers on the same page. This will help employees understand their roles, responsibilities and what they can do to keep themselves safe.
An effective safety program can be instrumental in reducing accidents and injuries. In fact, according to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), companies that do not perform regular safety training programs have a fatality rate that is five times higher than those with regular safety programs.
- Workers who have undergone safety training are also more productive and enjoy their jobs.
- Trained employees will take fewer breaks, work longer hours, and have a higher turnover rate than their untrained counterparts.
- Having a trained workforce also has a positive impact on business management and customer satisfaction.
- Safety training participants will learn about legal obligations in the workplace, identify workplace hazards, practise safety precautions when working with different hazards, recognise and respond to all industrial warning indicators.
- Participants will also be familiar with work at height steps, safety in excavations, trenching, scaffolding safety, electrical safety, material handling safety, welding and gas cutting safety, construction safety managements etc. as a result of this training.
This course is recommendable to undertake as it ensures that you have the essential skills, information, and training to execute your work effectively at construction site. With all of this in mind, how can businesses get started with workplace safety? There are several ways to introduce safe practises into your organisation and ensure that employees receive regular training: 1) Instill in your employees the importance of safety.2) Safety training should be given regularly and on a consistent basis in order to create an awareness of the importance of safety procedures in the workplace.
What we do at NIST: NIST is an ISO: 9001-certified company and India’s first NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner engaged in offering quality training programmes for individuals and organisations in various fields like IT/ITES, Construction, manufacturing, Health Care and many more. The Construction Safety Course is designed for employees who want to learn about their rights and responsibilities in pertaining to work-related health and safety issues, as well as how to protect themselves and others from occupational hazards while working on-site as well as protect the environment and those around them, by providing an overview of the requirements applicable to them and their workplaces through online classes.
The training sessions will be conducted in accordance with international standards using audiovisual presentations and case studies. You will also learn about the importance of observing safety signs and safe work procedures, site management, and site control systems to ensure safety on any job site or worksite during the training.
- At NIST, we are offering a variety of courses with different levels of certification on different topics related to workplace safety programs including Industrial safety, Construction Safety, Hazardous Waste Management Training, Environmental management much more.
- Our mission is to improve the quality of life by making sure that people are trained and prepared to handle any crisis situations such as accidents or disasters, and that they are aware of the laws and regulations concerning emergency management and disaster response, and are able to implement these in case of emergencies in the future in order to save lives, reduce suffering, protect property, protect the environment, and mitigate risks and disasters in workplace.
For further details, contact our client servicing team @ +91 9384663536 or mail us at [email protected]
Why is construction so important to the economy?
For the greater part of 2020, the construction industry has held steady amidst a barrage of economic predictions. Short- and long-term projects are still being executed as construction firms proceed with building and maintenance, as permitted by the federal government, strictly adhering to the guidelines to employ ‘essential infrastructure workers.’ It goes without saying that the construction industry is a very important sector of the economy. The construction industry doesn’t just erect structures that encourage increased productivity and improve the standard of living, it contributes greatly to the country’s economy through the following ways:
Provision of employment opportunities and trainingCreating opportunity for investing and profit makingSupport of businesses that cater to health and safety Affecting large-scale economic change due to its sizePrivate finance initiativePromoting improved transportation systems Providing income for small businesses that provide related goods or services
It is known to also factor significantly in the growth and recovery of economies. Due to the labor-intensive nature of the industry, at full-mast, it employs a healthy percentage of the country’s workforce. While the industry continues to cater to people financially and help bring stability to an already treacherously poised economy, a broader consideration of the economic situation shows that as a sector, the industry is still taking a significant beating.
- Unemployment rates in the industry tripled in the months following the advent of the pandemic, causing unemployment among an estimated 1 million construction workers, according to the U.S.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics,
- In April, a month after the first global lockdowns were put in place, Canada lost 314,000 construction jobs, or about 21.1 percent of the industry’s workforce.
What Role Can the Government Play in the Economic Recovery? Construction guarantees a snappy return on any investments made. In the same vein, construction provides skilled and unskilled employment. If the government makes job creation and infrastructure a priority, the industry is well placed to regain its sure footing.
- The United States’ construction industry is one of the most extensive in the world.
- According to statistics, the industry spent up to 977 billion U.S.
- Dollars in 2019 and employed about 11.2 million people.
- While businesses in the private sector may display a reluctance to invest during uncertain economic times, the government can affect an increase in infrastructure projects.
For example, building projects or maintenance. When the government embarks on such investments, it stimulates demand for materials and services related to construction. It will also cause a marked rise in job availability due to the number of people the industry employs, which is about 7.6% of workers around the globe.
- The government should explore options available for hastening the approval process for certain infrastructural and construction projects.
- For the economic recovery phase to begin, work has to first begin, so this action would aid the availability of work post-pandemic and encourage investors or developers to pitch their tents with the industry.
To unlock the potential of the construction industry towards economic recovery, this and other sustainable policies are required.4 Ways the Construction Industry Can Lead the Economic Recovery 1. Securing Maintenance Projects and Investments It is highly beneficial for the government to focus investments on maintenance-based projects and backlogs,
- This is because construction firms can take advantage of the movement restrictions to carry out repairs with speed and ease.
- Maintenance projects are best embarked on because when there is need for approval, they are approved faster than constructing projects.
- This allows for faster procurement of funds and hastens the reward to communities and businesses in the area.
For small or medium-sized construction companies, these sort of projects are an advantage because the government frequently turns to international contractors for larger-scale projects.2. Adoption of Labor-Based Construction Methods One of the major problems in a failing economy is a rise in unemployment and the resultant poverty.
In the industrial age of today, many companies are embracing technology such as project cost management software and the ease of production that comes with it. However, construction is one of the few industries where everything can still be put together with labor. In the construction industry, over 50% of available labor requirements for large projects are relegated to technology.
In areas where there is low wage or a high rate of unemployment, it is advised that construction companies adopt methods of building or repair that are more labor-based, This would provide employment opportunities for more people throughout the duration of the project and reduce the rate of unemployment.3.
- Balancing the Scales During Large Projects Construction projects bring with them a healthy amount of economic ‘ripple effects.’ When working on large construction projects, it is healthy to keep local businesses and workforces engaged.
- This can be facilitated by balancing the large projects with smaller investments.
Two ways a construction project can directly impact local businesses are hiring local workers to join the labor team and obtaining raw materials from local sources. This provides more income for the employed businesses to pass on to others around the area.
- Long-term workers at a construction site often have need for various amenities like food, temporary housing and laundry services.
- The local businesses in an area can cater to these needs, from local restaurants to coffee shops, lodges and gas stations.
- This way, construction projects would contribute indirectly to economic recovery in that community.4.
Promoting Green Infrastructure Investments in green infrastructure will play a very important role in achieving economic recovery post-COVID-19. The importance of eco-friendly communities and lifestyles cannot be undermined. Construction firms can aid recovery of a threatened economy by embracing green infrastructure.
- One way to do this is the use of renewable energy sources like solar panels in households and commercial buildings.
- For this to succeed, there must be an adoption of eco-friendly projects on the national level, influencing the transport sector towards adopting electrified systems of transportation and promoting the restoration of the ecosystem,
Before COVID-19, many professionals in construction worked on short-term contracts based on available projects. Hence, some of them lost their sources of income when the pandemic began without any form of compensation. Small businesses that depend on the construction industry run a risk of insolvency if everything does not return to normal soon.
According to history, construction is a sector that contributes greatly to economic growth. After the Second World War, construction aided the recovery of the U.S. economy by providing affordable housing for families and individuals who left the cities to settle in new suburbs. Soon, the new communities attracted businesses who had to have commercial structures erected — shopping centers, garages, car parks and cinemas, amongst others.
The opening up of new areas also brought a necessity for road construction and repairs, causing a boom in the industry and economy as a whole. After the pandemic, the industry is guaranteed to pioneer an economic recovery if the government, construction contractors and companies play their respective various parts.
What is the most important part of a building?
Written by Andrew Morrison – It may seem like a simple part of the overall construction process, but your foundation is the most important part of your entire project. The biggest reason for this is that any mistakes you make in the foundation will only get worse as you go up. It’s known as compounding defects and it means that mistakes grow.
- Here’s an example: You notice that your slab foundation is 3/4″ out of square when you start framing.
- It’s also 1/2″ out of level across the total building.
- You figure, “well, I can handle that.
- I’ll just adjust it in the framing.” As you complete the framing, you get up to the roof and notice that the building is now 1″ out of square and 3/4″ out of level.
Bummer, but you figure you can capture it in the roof framing. By the time you metal roof shows up, the square panels don’t fit on your out of square roof and you have “to make it work.” In the end, everyone and your grandmother can see that the roof is out of square and the simple mistake in your foundation has ruined the look of the house.
I’ve actually seen this happen to someone. It was a “simple” mistake and it just got worse and worse as he went up in the construction process. Here’s another reason that your foundation deserves the highest focus and attention to detail: your entire house sits on top of it! If you skimp here and something fails, it’s not an easy fix.
Is it worth the extra few dollars to add a bit more rebar to the slab? Yes. Ensuring that the foundation is built to the very best standards possible is very much worth it. Here are some simple things to look out for when building your foundation and/or slab.
Make sure that the rebar is the right size and is laid out in the right spacing for your soil/geological conditions. A typical residential house in the United States uses #4 rebar in the foundation walls and #3 in the slab on an 18″x18″ grid pattern. The layout for the foundation rebar depends on the size of foundation wall and the local codes. Do not allow any rebar to “daylight” or even come close. No rebar should end or be placed within 4″ of the edge of the concrete. Rebar closer than that can draw moisture from the outside and rust. That rust will creep down the rebar and, over time, render the entire rebar system useless. Pay extra attention to the layout of your foundation and slab. Make sure that the corners are square and level. The closer to perfect you are, the better, but in no case should you be more than 1/4″ out of square or level for a roughly 2000 SF house. Use a laser level if you have one or the best standby of all time: a water level. It’s the cheapest level you’ll ever buy. It’s basically some clear plastic tubing, water, and a little red food coloring to help you see the level lines better. You can even use this set by yourself. Wait until the water has evaporated off of the top of the slab before you start finish troweling. If you press that water back into the surface of the concrete, it will weaken it. Allow it to cast off the water it doesn’t “want” and then get on it for the finish work. If you plan to acid stain your concrete, don’t over finish the surface. If you polish the surface too much, you will seal it beyond what the acid stain can react with. You can definitely get the surface smooth, don’t get me wrong, the key is not to power trowel the heck out of the slab. Use a stepped foundation when applicable to minimize concrete use. If you have a sloped site, step the foundation up or down the hillside to work with the topography. Be sure to measure the steps and keep them in line with the bale courses so you can step the bales too down the road if that works with your design. This won’t apply in all cases, but if it does, it’s great to get it right when stepping the foundation to keep your bale work easy. Spend some extra time around your foundation bolts when finishing the slab. Many people don’t put a lot of attention here because they figure “it will be buried in the wall so who cares if it looks good.” This is one way that mistakes compound. When you add your 4×4 toe ups to a series of foundation bolts sticking out of poorly finished concrete, you will quickly find that the 4×4’s won’t sit flat. The thick 4×4’s won’t bend like a 2×4 to fit flat either, so you will be left with a toe up that’s up in the air in some spots and flat in others. This not only allows for air gaps through which bugs can also travel, but also messes up the framing before you even start it. Finish those areas well and you will be happy you did. Use Wedge Bolts or other “after cure” anchors for the interior toe ups. By adding the interior anchor bolts after the concrete has been finished you can get a better finish on the concrete (not only for the bolts as described in #7, but also for your floor which will come very close to the anchor bolt locations). Using the drill in bolts also makes the layout and installation of the interior toe up a lot easier and more accurate. Be sure to vibrate your form boards to eliminate “honeycombing” of the concrete. This not only improves the strength of the wall, but increases the beauty. This can be as simple as pounding a hammer against the form boards while the concrete is still wet. Do this BEFORE you finish the surface as the vibration can make the surface of the concrete drop a bit. Use adequate bracing for your pours. There is nothing worse than having a form board blow out during a pour. It means more concrete will be used and your nice straight line will be shot. Use lots of diagonal braces to support the forms during the pour.
You can learn even more about pouring foundations in our comprehensive How-To Instruction Video Series, It contains over 10.5 hours of top-notch, professional quality instruction on everything from foundations, to framing, to baling (post and beam and load bearing), to plaster.