With all the energy and effort construction professionals put into planning and delivering a project, construction liabilities are not uncommon. Liability in projects can be due to several issues such as injuries, poor workmanship, labor and material shortages, inadequate designs, project delays, and unexpected events.
However, construction professionals can be proactive and follow some proven steps through every construction process to minimize liability and prevent overall defects. From looking at how dust suppression systems control the amount of dust in an area, to ensuring that everyone has adequate health and safety training, there are many things you can do to guarantee the safety of yourself as well as those around you. That said, this article will review certain strategies that can help reduce liability and construction defects or accidents. Continue reading to learn more.
Obtain Insurance
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), enacted to protect workers and others from the dangers involved in construction sites, one way to reduce liability is by protecting your construction workers. It requires all construction companies to observe safety precautions, including getting construction insurance for financial protection in case of an accident.
When getting the insurance, the contractor should note that it should cover multiple damages and injuries affecting various parties. For instance, insurance should cover all employees and visitors who might be involved in an accident. If you’re looking to shop for insurance, you may want to check contractor insurance in Toronto or anywhere near you.
Review, Evaluate, And Revise The Contract
Identifying and taking action to reduce liability on construction projects begin before ground-breaking. The most important feature of any construction project is the contract. Contracts affect all aspects of the project and thus prove crucial in mitigating liability on a construction project. Construction professionals should be proactive and prepare their contracts as soon as possible and never be just an afterthought. A contract hastily designed at the last minute can negatively affect the project, thus increasing liability.
Construction contracts shouldn’t be carried from one project to another without revisions as they can bring problems and increase professional liability exposure. Ensure every contract is tailored to a specific project to avoid any issue that can affect both sides. When using a standard contract, it must be reviewed, revised, and updated as they quickly become outdated. After drafting the contract, the contractor should frequently consult with it to get the people involved to understand its terms and requirements.
Don’t Rush The Construction
One of the main reasons why accidents and construction defects occur is due to poor workmanship. A good example is when the supervisor commands the workers to work faster to finish the project early or to stay on schedule, which increases the chances of making mistakes and defects in the construction process. This can lead to accidents and increase liability in the construction project. Construction professionals should understand that rushing the construction project may stall the project and leave them responsible for injuries and costly repairs.
Maintain Good Communication
Mitigating liability is also dependent on proper communication. A construction project is comparable to a marriage. The parties involved commit to constructing something by bringing their skills and talents to the table along with their shortcomings and vices. Without good communication, disagreements and disputes can be the order of the day, which can have devastating effects. Fortunately, proper communication can significantly mitigate liability on a project.
Establish good communication from the start so issues can be communicated and solved before they escalate into difficult and costly ones. Construction professionals must urge workers to raise questions, uncertainties, and concerns immediately to avoid future disputes. The professionals can accomplish this by having a communication plan reflecting the project’s chain of command. For instance, they may designate an individual to act as the communication link between the workers and the management.
Keep Adequate Records
Another crucial aspect of mitigating liability is proper documentation of records. This may include documenting payment claims, actual payments, and supporting costs. Appropriate and accurate documentation may help the construction professionals resolve any issues if disputes arise.
While construction managers depend on verbal communication to quickly and easily convey information to workers, verbal information is often misremembered, misunderstood, or wrongly sent down the line. This calls for documenting critical information, such as onsite instructions directing a contractor to make some changes, and sent to appropriate individuals. Information such as the scope of the change, the individual in charge, the date of the directive, and any added costs must be included here.
Conclusion
Mitigating liability in construction projects requires proactive approaches to ensure everything goes as planned. We hope the strategies discussed here will be helpful in your construction projects. However, it shouldn’t be a one-time practice; construction professionals must continuously review, evaluate, and revise the strategies for optimal benefits.
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