Last year the construction market was estimated worldwide at 7.28 trillion USD, making it one of the largest individual industries in the world. And that number is only expected to grow and double by the end of the decade. Like all industries, construction has had to change and adapt to the modern world and global scale of industry and supply chains.
One area where construction has been lagging behind, however, despite its success and growth, has been productivity. Research has shown that while other industries like manufacturing have been able to nearly double the productive output per worker, construction has been stagnant for decades.
For small construction projects, a slight dip in productivity can have a significant impact on meeting client deadlines and budgets. Amplify that to larger commercial construction or megaprojects, tiny changes in productivity can have a substantial effect across an entire project and company. The more productive you are, the happier your clients are and the more profitable you can be.
There is a lot to do when preparing for a construction project. You have to draw up the plans, make sure they are approved and permitted by municipalities, and put the right people in place to execute each aspect of the design and development of the building, road, or green space.
At some point, you may find there are materials far too heavy to be moved by the machinery you have available. At that point, you know you're going to need to buy or rent a crane.
We have talked at length before about crane safety and, most importantly, about ensuring cranes are stable when on-site. Work areas, whether they are residential, commercial, or industrial, are dangerous places to work when heavy equipment is in use. Cranes especially add in another layer of concern when needed for projects.
Stabilization of cranes is key to a safe and efficient worksite. The leading causes of injury and death during crane operations are electrocution or blunt force trauma from being hit or crushed with loads. The third direct cause is from cranes tipping over. The risk for all three categories increases when a crane hasn’t been appropriately stabilized.
Very few construction projects are complete without having a crane on-site for at least a day or two. They help move materials and people to hard-to-reach places, and can provide a bump in productivity. Selecting the right crane for the lifts you need to perform is essential, but so is making sure your work site is ready for it to arrive.
Construction sites and industries that utilize heavy equipment can be dangerous places to work if safety isn’t at the forefront of everyone’s mind. While engineering and technology advancements have made these work zones safer, crane accidents are still one of the leading causes of injuries and fatalities.