Three Safety Tips During Construction

A customer-orientated construction company, Telligent Masonry has been in operation since 1957. Operating out of Rockville, Maryland, Telligent Masonry gives priority to safety and has won more than 20 awards, including Star Award Winner for Excellence in the Face of Adversity and the 2014 Carson V. Carlisle, Jr. Safety Award. The company has valued safety since it began.

Construction worksites can be dangerous, and cutting corners during construction is a recipe for disaster. Here are three safety tips for a safe construction worksite.

Compliant storage: Hazardous chemicals and other flammable substances must be stored correctly to minimize the risk of fire, explosions, injury, and pollution. Use compliant storage solutions for chemicals in order to reduce spillage.

Equipment handling: At a construction worksite, the risk of equipment tipping or rolling over is always high when loading or unloading. Make sure that ramps are cleared and straight. Workers should ensure there is plenty of room between them and the equipment being loaded or unloaded in case of an emergency.

COVID-19 prevention: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the biggest challenges at a construction workplace is keeping social distance while upholding other safety protocols. Construction companies must adhere to COVID-19 safety requirements mandated by the city or state where they are working. Every employer should also develop a COVID-19 workplace safety plan.

Trade Develop Workforce with Online Tool

Founded in 1957, Telligent Masonry operates out of Rockville, Maryland, constructing masonry projects for many clients, including the Miami International Airport and Walt Disney World. Staffed by experienced and talented professionals, Telligent Masonry earned several awards for its masonry and construction projects, including the National Excellence in Construction Award from Associated Builders and Contractors, a trade organization serving the construction industry.

Established on the merit shop philosophy, which promotes the idea that work should be awarded based on merit, Associated Builders and Contractors works with its 21,000 members to build hard-working and talented teams and complete projects with safety guidelines. To that end, the organization offers a Workforce Development Management System (WDMS) through an online portal that allows companies to oversee the growth and improvement of their staff.

The Associated Builders and Contractors WDMS allows construction companies to review the current status of their teams and how well they meet certain requirements. From there, a company can gain insights into how they may improve their staff as a whole and offer higher quality service to their customers. To gain access to the system, a company must be a member of Associated Builders and Contractors.

APAH Affordable Senior Housing Project

An award-winning company based in Rockville, Maryland, Telligent Masonry offers complete in-house masonry services for its partner clients. Installing CMU, brick, precast, stone, and granite, the firm’s portfolio includes projects completed for Miami International Airport, Walt Disney World, and Four Seasons Hotels. Telligent Masonry supports various nonprofits, including the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH).

An established developer, APAH endeavors to effectively and efficiently increase affordable rental housing units in Arlington County, Virginia, and surrounding areas. In February 2021 the nonprofit, along with co-owner E&G Group, held a virtual groundbreaking ceremony for their Loudoun View Senior Living project, located on Bartholomew Fair Drive in Sterling, Virginia. With site work already in progress, the $30 million development is scheduled to open its doors in spring 2022.

There will be 98 affordable housing apartments comprising 19 two-bedroom units and 79 one-bedroom units. The apartments are for seniors earning 60 percent or less than the area median income. Aside from features complying with aging resident accessibility requirements, the development will also have onsite resident services, along with other services to foster community and help residents age with dignity.

 

Materials Procurement in Construction

Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, Telligent Masonry is a leading provider of masonry services including estimating, preconstruction, and project management. With regard to project management, Telligent Masonry ensures projects remain on schedule and on budget by tracking labor and materials daily.

Efficient procurement of materials is central to minimizing construction costs. If project managers procure materials too early, they tie up capital in inventory, raise storage costs, and suffer interest charges on the excess inventory. On the other hand, if they order materials too late, they delay construction, reduce workers’ productivity, and incur higher fees for hauling the materials. Labor costs may rise, too.

Ideally, project managers should discuss procurement during the initial planning and scheduling phases of construction to streamline the process. They should also allow sufficient time for procurement and delivery of materials in their planning. Bulk and standard construction materials like soil and pipes can be bought in appropriate quantities and stockpiled. Materials that need pre-fabrication like steel beams and columns are harder to schedule, since they have to be fabricated at a shop before delivery. Open communication with fabricators can improve schedule synergies.

A great way to stay on top of materials procurement while a project is ongoing is to leverage computer-based systems. These systems monitor production schedules and material utilization rates, then evaluate inventory records to identify the materials in short supply that need to be reordered. With this system, project managers know what should be procured, when it should come in, and at what quantity.