Construction Industry and Corona
Discussion
I know this is another Corona Virus thread but though something focusing on the Construction, Property and Civils could be useful and Industry.
Yesterday the Construction Leadership Council wrote a letter to the PM regarding the impacts of Corvid 19 http://www.constructionleadershipcouncil.co.uk/wp-...
How are you as a business, Employer or Employee dealing with the situation in our industry? Are your sites still running as normal? Are you managing to carry on with management duties remotely? how are your clients coping? are you self employed and worried?
Could this crisis impact how the future of our industry operates, either in a positive or negative way?
What are your thoughts?
Yesterday the Construction Leadership Council wrote a letter to the PM regarding the impacts of Corvid 19 http://www.constructionleadershipcouncil.co.uk/wp-...
How are you as a business, Employer or Employee dealing with the situation in our industry? Are your sites still running as normal? Are you managing to carry on with management duties remotely? how are your clients coping? are you self employed and worried?
Could this crisis impact how the future of our industry operates, either in a positive or negative way?
What are your thoughts?
The Builders in my area seem to be carrying on - one has issued a statement that there may be knock ons on programme (given their usual email style vs. how the statement was written it was clearly a copy and paste), but aside from that it seems to be business as usual. Mind you, here in the shire it's more smaller builders than large outfits. From our perspective on the design side a couple of face to face meetings have been cancelled but in the drawing office it's still all systems go. I can't be ill, I've got a tender to get out 
ETA: Most of our jobs on the go currently are private residential refurbishments.
ETA: Most of our jobs on the go currently are private residential refurbishments.
Edited by Triumph Man on Thursday 19th March 12:20
Our sites are continuing with the plan that should there be any confirmed cases they will shut for 48 hours for a deep clean and then reopen.
We are still securing new orders with changes to sourcing materials from Italy/USA to within UK only.
We are keeping in house production running by changing to shift patterns to keep workforce going, but only half a team in at one time to help keep people as spread out as possible.
Most office staff are working from home. Estimating team are busier than ever with new enquiries. In many ways it is business as usual for now.
Edited to add - our sites are mainly commercial, theatre and university sites.
Other half works for a much smaller company doing residential only work and they are a little more worried, but have enough to keep the workshop going for a while yet even if they have to use storage to keep things made until they can go to site to install again.
We are still securing new orders with changes to sourcing materials from Italy/USA to within UK only.
We are keeping in house production running by changing to shift patterns to keep workforce going, but only half a team in at one time to help keep people as spread out as possible.
Most office staff are working from home. Estimating team are busier than ever with new enquiries. In many ways it is business as usual for now.
Edited to add - our sites are mainly commercial, theatre and university sites.
Other half works for a much smaller company doing residential only work and they are a little more worried, but have enough to keep the workshop going for a while yet even if they have to use storage to keep things made until they can go to site to install again.
I work for a small/medium housing developer. We're going to do our best to keep the sites running, but obviously we're aware that if we start losing our subcontractors, we're going to struggle.
In the offices, plans have been made for nearly everyone to work from home. Those who haven't got company laptops are either dialling in remotely from their home PC, or some are actually taking their whole desktop home, as that's easier and cheaper than sorting out new licences to use the in house software.
The three direct dial lines we have are going to be diverted to specific mobile numbers, and one person will be permanent in the office as skeleton staff to answer the main phone line, take in what post we have etc. Other members of staff will come in on rotation so that there will be at least two people in the office at any one time for security, and to allow for comfort breaks.
So as much as possible, we're trying to minimise contact and risk, whilst still trying to build the houses. Our customers will still expect to complete near the dates agreed when they reserved.
In the offices, plans have been made for nearly everyone to work from home. Those who haven't got company laptops are either dialling in remotely from their home PC, or some are actually taking their whole desktop home, as that's easier and cheaper than sorting out new licences to use the in house software.
The three direct dial lines we have are going to be diverted to specific mobile numbers, and one person will be permanent in the office as skeleton staff to answer the main phone line, take in what post we have etc. Other members of staff will come in on rotation so that there will be at least two people in the office at any one time for security, and to allow for comfort breaks.
So as much as possible, we're trying to minimise contact and risk, whilst still trying to build the houses. Our customers will still expect to complete near the dates agreed when they reserved.
Thanks for the specific thread - I have a client who supplies equipment to the construction industry (larger scale) so 
!
Anecdotally, I spoke with a Travis Perkins delivery driver yesterday (not the client!) and he said they been really busy for the last week or so - mainly smaller builders ensuring they had materials on site before a potential supply disruption.
!Anecdotally, I spoke with a Travis Perkins delivery driver yesterday (not the client!) and he said they been really busy for the last week or so - mainly smaller builders ensuring they had materials on site before a potential supply disruption.
I spoke with a large London centric Main Contractor today and their sites are open at the moment. They stated that subcontractors weren't allowed in the site offices (which seems quite daft) and they were trying to keep open as long as possible.
I have informed my customers that due to the potential of tube stations closing and childcare duties of our operatives (partners in critical jobs), we can't guarantee labour on all their sites. None complained and all understood. I expect all our sites will be closed next week. London based.
I have informed my customers that due to the potential of tube stations closing and childcare duties of our operatives (partners in critical jobs), we can't guarantee labour on all their sites. None complained and all understood. I expect all our sites will be closed next week. London based.
Edited by Piha on Thursday 19th March 19:20
I work for a top ten contractor, the plan is to try and keep the sites going and all non-management staff work from home. The project I’m working on has got quieter as staff travel to site on the tube and are becoming more paranoid so they are working from home.
A lot of site ops are self employed so want to carry on working as long as the sites are open.
I was in our Birmingham office today which is normally busy and it was dead.
A lot of site ops are self employed so want to carry on working as long as the sites are open.
I was in our Birmingham office today which is normally busy and it was dead.
I was due to be on site in central London on Monday - major, international contracting organisation. You'd know them if you're in the industry.
Swapped it to Skype yesterday - fair enough.
This morning they said they're currently planning for all their central London sites (think major tower blocks within the the City) to be shut down on Monday and they might have to postpone as they'll be dealing with the consequences of that.
Swapped it to Skype yesterday - fair enough.
This morning they said they're currently planning for all their central London sites (think major tower blocks within the the City) to be shut down on Monday and they might have to postpone as they'll be dealing with the consequences of that.
I work in quarrying.
Demand is still there for now, but I suspect the major projects will start to shut down middle to end of next week. Staff shortages are inevitable with 14 day self isolation and these guys are so risk averse and tightly financed I reckon any excuse to pause the jobs and evaluate would be taken. Site security will be a big concern.
National house builders will be under government pressure to keep sites going, but demand for new builds must surely subside in the coming weeks / months. Which private individuals would list their houses for sale at the moment to try and step up the ladder? Also it's amazing the grip that Italy / China have on the supply chain. Pipe fittings, ceramic tiles etc.
It's impossible to plan at the moment, everything is reactive and wait and see. Wait and see kills construction...
Demand is still there for now, but I suspect the major projects will start to shut down middle to end of next week. Staff shortages are inevitable with 14 day self isolation and these guys are so risk averse and tightly financed I reckon any excuse to pause the jobs and evaluate would be taken. Site security will be a big concern.
National house builders will be under government pressure to keep sites going, but demand for new builds must surely subside in the coming weeks / months. Which private individuals would list their houses for sale at the moment to try and step up the ladder? Also it's amazing the grip that Italy / China have on the supply chain. Pipe fittings, ceramic tiles etc.
It's impossible to plan at the moment, everything is reactive and wait and see. Wait and see kills construction...
I work for a top 10 main contractor. My site is still open and all the others I know of are (M4 corridor area). A couple of operatives have disappeared either self isolating or suspected Corona (not confirmed). More or less business as usual. No one wants to stop working for obvious reasons.
Only special measures we have been asked to take is to deep clean the office/welfare, spread the desks out in the office (I kid you not!), get some anti bacteria spray dispensers (currently out of stock surprisingly enough).
I'm glad I'm not going to London every day like I used to. The big sites there must be really struggling for labour resource and to manage the risk (500 blokes using a large canteen every day for instance).
I wouldn't be surprised if the Government imposes a close down next week the way things are going. Hope not.
Only special measures we have been asked to take is to deep clean the office/welfare, spread the desks out in the office (I kid you not!), get some anti bacteria spray dispensers (currently out of stock surprisingly enough).
I'm glad I'm not going to London every day like I used to. The big sites there must be really struggling for labour resource and to manage the risk (500 blokes using a large canteen every day for instance).
I wouldn't be surprised if the Government imposes a close down next week the way things are going. Hope not.
Saleen836 said:
On the Barratt site i'm working on they have locked the port-a-loo and put a sign on it saying 'Do Not Use', deemed a hazzard now all of a sudden as it doesn't have hot running water!
Bit off the main topic, (sorry.)I have seen on some truck related pages that said port-a-loos are popping up at various customer/distribution sites, stating that these are for outside lorry drivers as they are not allowed to use the customers own facilities. Seems a bit arse backwards especially at RDC'S and food related depots.
Currently working on a rail job,isolated in my cab all day so all good,here another week,subby,but not too bothered only took this cos I could 'name my price'!
Have heard NR stopping construction jobs April n going to routine maintenance only,every train passed today only one or two,literally,on board
Heard from other people diesel supply could be issue,due to people stocking up at low price,n supply problem,burst pipe?
Happy to keep working if rates are right
Have heard NR stopping construction jobs April n going to routine maintenance only,every train passed today only one or two,literally,on board
Heard from other people diesel supply could be issue,due to people stocking up at low price,n supply problem,burst pipe?
Happy to keep working if rates are right
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