Reduce Injuries on a Construction Site

Reduce Injuries on a Construction Site

How to Reduce Injuries on a Construction Site

Reduce Injuries on a Construction SiteAccording to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 1 among 5 workplace injuries is a construction worker. This shows us how hazardous commercial construction sites are. However, the industry’s ability to adapt has also made it easier for companies to identify the underlying causes of injuries. In turn, this has helped find ways to tackle those issues and reduce the rates of injury on site. Today on our blog, our Sacramento construction general contractors will be covering how to reduce injuries on a construction site.

Hold safety meetings regularly.

These meetings should be held every day, especially if your commercial construction workers are undertaking high-risk work.  Our friends over at McQuillan Brothers, emergency plumber Minneapolis, regularly implement safety meetings into their weekly schedules. These meetings highlight the importance of safety. Additionally, they remind the employees of the dangers identified during risk assessments while reminding them to stay focused. Addressing relevant issues that apply to the job-specific site information ensures that employees know the exposure points.

Conduct a Real Risk Assessment

Before a project begins, a commercial construction site should be inspected for any potential or unusual hazards. These inspections will allow you to develop a proper safety plan that takes into account these potential hazards. Alternatively, you can also have a job hazard analysis carried out on the site. This has proven itself as a savior, both for working capital savings and human lives. 

Additionally, for each potential hazard observed, a corresponding list of preventive measures should be compiled then implemented. A risk assessment document should then be provided for all workers during a safety meeting. The brief will highlight the right education, information, and training required to stop injuries from occurring on site.

Stop Falls Before They Occur

Falls are among the leading cause of injuries in the construction sector. They are also the leading cause of death in the industry. They make up about 33% of all construction injuries. Installing fall protection systems can go a long way in preventing a large number of construction fatalities from occurring. These protection systems include screens, guardrails, canopy structures, toe boards, scaffolding, and nets. For scaffolding, it is important to ensure that it is constructed well and installed properly to hold the intended weight. Scaffolding should also be inspected regularly by a qualified Sacramento commercial builder. Other protection methods include a lanyard or a safety harness.

Maintain Equipment and Conduct Checks Regularly

The machinery used in most construction sites today requires a lot of down-time responsibility, including inspecting the equipment regularly and maintaining it. More than 75% of struck-by injuries result from heavy machinery like cranes or trucks. Thoroughly and regularly conducting maintenance checks on this equipment will increase your ability to stop malfunctions. This is huge, as these malfunctions may cause serious injuries.

Use Protective Gear and Clothing

Workers should, at all times, wear the recommended safety equipment for their jobs. This may include goggles, a hard hat, gloves, high-visibility clothing, a protective suit, or steel-toed shoes. During the summer heat, outdoor commercial renovation Sacramento workers require nape protectors, wide-brim hard hats, and long-sleeve-lightweight shirts. These will help protect them from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Ensure the workspace remains clean

Keeping the worksite clean and free of debris will reduce the chances of a commercial builder sustaining injuries and preventing worksite accidents such as falls, trips, and slips. Employees are encouraged to put away their construction materials and tools when done with the job. Walkways should also remain free from debris at all times. This will help avert any accidents that include falls and slips.

Exercise caution with vehicles

Many commercial construction site accidents usually involve vehicles. Workers should practice parking, backing, and defensive driving. Commercial construction companies in Sacramento can organize periodic refresher courses to sharpen construction equipment and vehicle operators/drivers’ skills.

Use the Equipment in the Right Manner

Using construction equipment or tools for something they are not designed for may interfere with the manufacturer’s inbuilt safety features.  Misusing equipment may also cause damage to the equipment, which may cause injuries to employees. 

Furthermore, any equipment used in construction sites should meet OSHA standards.

Develop a safety culture

Repeating safety information and warnings every day will help your workers but only to some extent. At the end of the day, working as a team to willfully approach safety will prevent construction fatalities. When your workers make an effort to conduct their own safety protocols and risk assessments, they will help prevent injuries by awareness and active discussion.

Headwaters Construction Inc. hopes that you consider all the useful information on injury prevention discussed above and implemented it on your construction site. If you have any inquiries about the services we provide or would like to learn more about our company’s services, please contact us today.

Phases of a Commercial Build-Out

Phases of a Commercial Build-Out

Understanding the Phases of a Commercial Build-Out

Phases of a Commercial Build-OutThere are many different phases of a commercial build-out. This entails a very long and detailed process, which can be frustrating with codes and regulations. Hiring a Sacramento commercial builder like Headwaters Construction Inc. to manage your project from the beginning to the end can help. This will help decrease your frustrations significantly. However, you must have some basic knowledge of each stage of the build-out. In turn, this will help decide who would be the contractor for the position. 

Knowing what each stage entails makes it easier for you to learn whether a contractor is up to the task. Additionally, it may keep you from incurring unexpected costs or delays. 

The following are the commercial build-out phases.

Design Stage

This is the stage where blueprints are designed. Structural engineers and architects are usually the ones who sign off on commercial building plans. Hiring the right Sacramento general contractor allows them to work directly with the engineer to accurately develop and implement the design.

When approaching the design reading stage, it is helpful to have commercial construction companies on hand. They will ensure that the end product built is the vision that the design carried in the long run. 

The main purpose of the design stage is to make sure that the building will be ideal for its intended use. Keeping the design of a commercial build-out functional is a good idea. You can then explore and incorporate various energy-saving elements and methods. This will be beneficial in the long run.  

Plan Approval Stage

Now that you’re done with the designs, we now venture into the plan approval stage. Here, your plans are checked against zoning restrictions and building codes to ensure that they are compliant. Your commercial builder should be capable of handling this with ease. To avoid non-compliance, have your contractor guide you from the beginning of the design process. Hiring an expert Sacramento tilt-up contractor ensures that your plans have covered the basic rules and guidelines.

Our friends over at Turek’s Plumbing, Appleton Kitchen remodel company, provided us with some great advice. Since they are in Wisconsin, they have different codes for the harsh winter. They advise that if you live in an area with additional codes for weather permits, such as Florida, you will need to ensure that your plans take that into account because of hurricane season.

Additionally, your building plans will need to be approved with sewer lines. The plans have to not only suit your needs but those of the location as well. This is why hiring an experienced general contractor in Sacramento from the get-go is important as they will advise you on all of these regulations. 

Work and Special Permits

Ensure that the commercial construction company you hired has craftsmen who are certified. In addition to this, your contractor should also know what permits apply to your commercial building project. Having your general contractor dealing with permits is both an energy and a time saver. This is because some additions to your project design may require special permits.  Your contractor is in charge of the permits, also makes them responsible for all questions raised.

Materials Needed

The matter concerning materials boils down to the trust relationship you have with your general contractor Sacramento. This is unless you are very knowledgeable on all things construction materials. While the temptation to use cost-effective materials may beckon you, you must explore all the risks involved before making your decision. Having your contractor advise you on whether this may be a good idea is highly recommended. Ensure that the grade of materials to be used is of good quality. 

Additionally, your material choice may be dependent on the environment or its intended function. Some materials may also be regulated in some cases due to the weather.

Beginning Construction

There are several stages involved in the construction phase. The construction is carried out in these stages:

  1. Laying the foundation
  2. Mechanical installations
  3. Installing roofing 
  4. Finishes

It should be noted that before construction can move to the next phase, a municipal authority official needs to assess the stage and give the go-ahead for the project to continue. Headwaters Construction Inc. cautions that this is the phase that experiences the most delays. As follows, even if the paperwork is in order and all, there may be a delay. A lot usually happens in this phase, so you should accept from the beginning that things may not go according to your timeline. 

However, your ground-up construction contractor should keep watch for any delays that may occur in the future and find ways to prevent them from happening so that the project can meet its deadline. 

Managing the Building Process

The last stage in this phase is managing the building process. Here, your contractor should also supervise any sub-contractors that may be on-site and relay information on the project’s progress at every stage.  

With the right set of professionals and an expert contractor from a reputable commercial construction company, any project, no matter the size, will run smoothly without any hitches. Headwaters Construction Inc. is just the commercial builder for you if you want a hassle-free project. Contact Headwaters Building today and let us discuss how we can bring your dream to reality.

Construction Site Safety Plans

Construction Site Safety Plans

Construction Site Safety Plans

Construction Site Safety PlansThe owners and contractors at commercial construction sites have two majors duties to manage. First, they must manage the risk of property damage. Secondly, they must manage injury to persons within and around the building site. Construction accidents cost money and put lives at risk. Additionally, they damage the reputation of all concerned, especially the commercial builder and the project owner. The dangers at construction sites are so serious that every year, about 20% of all private-sector employee fatalities occur. Site-Specific Safety Plans are a valuable tool to ensure that risks are mitigated against during a construction project. 

Site-Specific Safety Plans are documents that indicate the particulars of the safety risks existing at a given commercial construction site. Additionally, they detail what the commercial builder plans to do to manage those identified risks. The document also indicates the health and safety obligations applicable to that site. Today on the blog, our tilt-up contractors share more information on construction site safety plans. 

Site-Specific Safety Plan Requirements

Site-Specific Safety Plans have a number of attributes which include the following:

  • Creating a system that links various activities to different risks, together with the measures that can be undertaken to manage those risks.
  • They are designed to safeguard commercial construction workers and site visitors. Additionally, this includes members of the general public from the risk of being exposed to the hazards found at the construction site.
  • The Site Specific Safety Plan covers all contractors, the subcontractors they hire, and anyone working at that ground-up project site.
  • It isn’t static. The document needs to be updated as and when conditions at the construction site evolve so that the safety plan is relevant at all times.

The Site Specific Safety Plan is usually prepared by the Sacramento construction company hired as a general contractor on the commercial construction project.

Desirable Elements of a Site Specific Safety Plan

Site-Specific Safety Plans are living documents whose contents have to be implemented on a daily basis in the lifetime of an ongoing construction project. The following are some of the actionable contents of this plan;

  • Risk analysis
  • A disciplinary program for all near-miss safety incidents
  • CPR/first aid training
  • Documentation of all accidents and inspections done
  • Hard hat numbering system for easy worker identification
  • The stipulation of a competent person responsible for overseeing the implementation of safety standards
  • Signed site safety orientation forms 
  • Records of subcontractor “toolbox talks” aimed at keeping them in the loop on all matters concerning the delivery of needed materials, timelines, coordination of shifts, and so on.
  • Written proof that all subcontractors comply with all the OSHA requirements by filling out the necessary logs.
  • Identification of a safety supervisor who speaks English

As the name suggests, a site-specific safety plan is customized to the conditions prevailing at a given site, so the contents of the safety document will vary in accordance with the prevailing conditions at the site. Nevertheless, there is a wrong way to go about preparing this document for a concrete tilt-up construction project or any other construction project as highlighted in the section below.

Undesirable Elements of Site Specific Safety Plans

  • Canned/generic site-specific safety plans. It isn’t helpful to copy and paste the contents of a site safety plan because such a document will not address the particular risks unique to the site. It is therefore worthwhile to craft a customized document that will help to avert the risks that can engulf both the commercial builder and the project owner together with other stakeholders.
  • Restating different standards. Different regulatory bodies, such as ANSI and OSHA, have standards that construction companies must adhere to. Some commercial builders simply extract relevant sections of those standards and restate them in the site-specific safety plans that they draft. This is unnecessary and potentially detrimental. Especially when that quoted standard is revised and the revision contradicts the earlier version. It is far better to customize the contents of the said standard to the site requirements so that anyone reading that document knows what is expected of them at that moment.

How to Improve the Specificity of a Site Specific Safety Plan

  • Include a diagram of the project site
  • Describe the project site
  • State the ground-up project site’s geographical location (city, street or campus, for example)
  • Indicate the location of all equipment, scaffolding, and all activities
  • State the neighboring businesses or structures
  • Indicate the designated travel routes for vehicles entering or leaving the concrete tilt-up construction site.
  • Include emergency and safety contact numbers
  • Describe any unusual site conditions, such as the existence of an abandoned outdoor swimming pool
  • Areas where site workers can take meal breaks

When a Site Specific Safety Plan is properly drafted and implemented, things work well. Our friends over at Tureks Plumbing, Appleton bathroom remodel company, agree that the chance that a safety incident will occur is greatly minimized when this is in place. Even when an accident occurs, its effects will not be as severe as the effects of an accident that occurs when there is no plan in place to guide how everyone will respond during such an event.

Construction Site Safety Plans at Headwaters Construction Inc.

At Headwaters Construction Inc., we take matters of site safety seriously. We know that an accident can delay or even result in the cancellation of a planned project. If you have been burned in the past or would like to work with a commercial builder who regards site safety as a top priority, look no further! Contact Headwaters Construction Inc. today and we will discuss your unique project needs. Our teams are made up of highly trained and experienced professionals. Choose us and leave the rest to us!

Benefits of Hiring a Construction Company

Benefits of Hiring a Construction Company

4 Key Benefits of Hiring a Construction Company

Benefits of Hiring a Construction CompanyWith so many commercial construction companies out there, it is vital to do your research. Selecting the best company to undertake your ground-up construction project is extremely important. There are many benefits that come with finding the right company. Today on the blog, we detail the benefits of hiring a construction company.

They Offer a Broad Range of Services

One of the biggest reasons why you should hire a reputable commercial construction company is that they will offer you all the services that you need. This is in connection with your concrete tilt-up construction project or any other method of construction that you choose.

For example, with the commercial builder on your side, you will not have to look to other companies. The building design team, electrical works experts, plumbing professionals, or indeed any other skilled personnel needed to construct your building will come with a construction company. All you have to do is sign the necessary paperwork. The company will do the rest, from the first step of the project to the last step, when the finished building is handed to you.

You Are Assured of Expertise at All Levels

Reputable commercial builders have a name to protect. As follows, they will go out of their way to select the best professionals to join their teams. Additionally, the resources that they command allow them to attract and retain the best talent on their books.

You will have access to the best building designers, the best architects, the best building inspectors, and all the other professionals. Essentially, you will have access to any of the professions that are required during the phases of constructing a commercial building. Your job ends at signing a contract with the Sacramento construction company. They will do the rest while you receive timely status updates on the progress being made.

This is in stark contrast to someone who ends up with contractors who aren’t known for their high professional standards. Such builders will spell trouble from the very beginning. Problems are likely to arise during every step of the process. For example, their limited experience could make them give you inaccurate financial projections. Thus, you could end up having misunderstandings with them over cost creep.

Licensed and Insured Professionals

You don’t want to work with a commercial construction firm that isn’t insured or licensed. Our neighbors over at Gilmore Heating, Air and Plumbing, the best HVAC company in Sacramento, share their recommendations. They shared that it is important to always make sure that whoever your hiring is insured and licensed. This is because such an entity will not give you the assurance that you need regarding adherence to construction guidelines and procedures.

It is in your best interest to select a commercial construction company that is licensed to operate within the jurisdiction of your building. Their staff should be licensed and bonded to safeguard you from being liable should an accident occur during the ground-up project.

Commercial construction is inherently risky, but a reputable tilt-up construction firm will have systems in place to manage those risks. Should an accident occur, their insurance will cover that eventuality, and you will not suffer any unforeseen costs.

Budgetary Discipline

While everyone would like to own a great commercial property, no one wants to spend more than is necessary to get that building. It is, therefore, important to find construction contractors who are professional enough to respect the set budget and deliver a complete structure that meets all the specifications agreed upon during the project design phase.

Different ground-up projects have their own cost requirements. A commercial construction company worth its name will give you accurate projections about the expected costs so that you can make an informed decision on whether to proceed with the project or modify the scope of the work in order to bring down the expected costs.

Once the timeframe and budget have been agreed upon, the commercial builder will act on those terms. This will be detailed in the contract, and you will have nothing to worry about. 

In short, the most helpful decision to ensure that your commercial construction project is successful is simple. Choose an honest and reputable commercial construction company in Sacramento. You will not have any headaches once you identify such a company. At Headwaters Construction Inc., we have a track record of delivering all types of commercial construction projects. This ranges from tilt-up construction, strip mall construction, and everything in between. Contact Headwaters Construction Inc today! Let us discuss how we can be of help in addressing all your commercial construction needs.

Commercial Building Permits Guide

commercial building permit guide - Headwaters Building

commercial building permit guideCustomer Guide to Commercial Building Permits

Building permits are an important part of the construction business. They are meant to ensure that buildings in question have met all the code regulations set by the authorities and that it is safe to start construction. If you are planning on starting a commercial building project, it helps to understand the permit acquisition process. This is because the city will not allow you to build without the relevant documents. Here is a complete customer guide on commercial building permits. 

Preliminary Review

The preliminary review takes place before you apply for the building permits. It is important because it saves you time to process all the required documents. The staff you encounter in every department will give you valuable ideas that will save you both time and money. 

During this phase, the relevant departments in your city answer any and all questions. They will be responsible for letting you know whether your proposed building meets the city’s development guidelines and whether you will require planning approvals from the planning commission or the Architectural Review Commission. 

In the event your project does require planning approval, the Planning Department will ask you to file a separate planning application from the building permit and pay the required fees. Gilmore Heating Air & Plumbing, Sacramento HVAC company explains that the fees you pay will also be separate from the building permit fees. 

Additionally, you will have to discuss the project with the different departments such as Public Works, Health, or Fire Department to see whether they have any requirements. 

Applying for a Building Permit 

Once the preliminary review is done, you will be required to apply for a building permit. Headwaters Building explains that this gives you permission to erect your building if your plans have been approved by the planning commission. 

To apply, turn in your application package to the Building & Safety Division of the City’s Community Development Department. This package contains:

  • A completed application, checklist, and related forms
  • The plan review deposit
  • Copies of required plans
  • Supporting documentation (energy, soils, structural analysis)

You can turn in your application in person at the Building and Safety Division or online. Our Sacramento commercial builders advise you to make sure to pay the review deposit of ‘plan check fee’ before the final review of the application documents. 

The Review Process 

Your application is reviewed after submission. There are different departments involved during this process depending on the nature of the project. These departments include: 

  • Building & Service Division
  • Fire Department 
  • Public Works Department 
  • Planning Division 
  • Utilities Department 

Each will approve or deny your application depending on whether or not you meet their requirements. 

Permit for Your Commercial Property

Applications are reviewed on a first-come-first-served basis. Your application is likely to take anywhere between 4-8 weeks depending on the category of project you are applying for. You will be provided with a permit if all the requirements are met. In the event you do not get the permit, the Building and Safety Division will highlight all the areas that need work. 

You can only make minor corrections on the application forms you provided. If the corrections become numerous or if you have to make major corrections, the Building & Safety Division expects you to correct the base drawing before submitting copies of the revised plans. Once you resubmit your corrections, they will be sent to the relevant departments. Most NorCal commercial construction companies say that it takes anywhere between 2-4 weeks to check the corrections and approve. 

The city will only provide you with a building permit if you meet all code requirements. You are expected to pay any fees upon notification before being issued the permit. Once you have the permit, you can comfortably start the construction. 

It is important to note that the city will carry out inspections as you build your commercial building. They will provide you with an Inspection Record card which details the remarks by the inspector after each phase of construction is completed. The inspector must sign the card after every phase before you can start working on the next. 

Talk to Headwater Cnstruction Inc. today and get the best professional advice to make your commercial building project a success.

Commercial Spaces and Code Compliance

Commercial Spaces and Code Compliance

Commercial Spaces and Code ComplianceAre Your Commercial Spaces Meeting Code Compliance?

Since commercial building laws and regulations are constantly evolving, commercial spaces and code compliance can change often. Headwaters Construction Inc., a commercial construction company in California, conducts onsite code compliance evaluations. These help property owners and users recognize what is needed to bring the space up to code.

Why Should You Even Be Concerned About Commercial Spaces and Code Compliance?

Building inspectors are tasked with ensuring that all buildings comply with the current code requirements. If inspectors find that your building or commercial space doesn’t comply with the code for the area, you could face many problems. These issues could be anything from stiff monetary penalties to even jail time. 

Additionally, Sacramento commercial builders say that businesses that are found to be operating from premises that don’t code compliant can face ethics violations charges. Having your commercial space reviewed for building code compliance by Headwaters Construction Inc. can protect you and your business from the risks above.

Why Do Building Codes Exist?

According to the International Code Council, building codes are important in all communities because they protect people from weather-related adverse events, fires, structural collapse, and other disasters whose magnitude could have been kept minimal, or the disaster avoided altogether.

Building inspectors or code officials work to ensure that all buildings comply with the code requirements in their area. In commercial buildings that are open to lots of people on a daily basis, inspectors are extra cautious to ensure that these businesses comply with the code requirements in force within a given jurisdiction.

When viewed from this angle, it becomes clear that building codes, and the officials who enforce them, are there for the good of everyone, so each commercial space owner or the user should do everything in their power to comply with the existing code requirements.

Why Would One Need Code Compliance Evaluation Help?

Building codes cover a wide range of aspects of a building. For example, some chapters or provisions will cover the electrical system. Other sections talk about the plumbing system and the fire prevention or suppression system.

These are technical documents that would send the head of a layperson spinning. However, the language in the codes is the daily language that commercial construction companies like Headwaters Construction Inc. use.

McQuillan Bros, HVAC company in St. Paul, MN explains that it is easy for a commercial builder to read the code and immediately know what has to be done in order to comply with those provisions.

Commercial construction companies are always in the loop. They immediately know when a change has been made to existing code, and how it affects the current buildings in the jurisdiction.

Sacramento construction general contractors like Headwaters Construction Inc. are best placed to conduct a code compliance evaluation. After, they will provide advice on what you need to do to bring your commercial space up to code.

What Else Can I Get from Code Compliance Evaluation?

When you enlist our help at Headwaters Construction Inc. to perform a code compliance evaluation, you will gain a lot. We give more than just a report that details what is out of code and how to bring it back.

In addition to the above, we will also point out what cosmetic improvements you can make to your commercial space. For example, we will point out areas of worn floors, peeling paint, needed ceiling repairs, and more!

Get in touch with us at Headwaters Construction Inc. if you’re interested in compliance evaluations. We will offer a solution that will bring your commercial space into code compliance. We can also repair the existing defects in a cost-effective way. This will make the commercial premises an enviable home for your business.