A recent study carried out by Loughborough University on behalf of Balfour Beatty, Kier, Mace, Morgan Sindall, Skanska and GKR Scaffolding has found that average productivity of individual workers has increased as a result of altered working practices due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but overall output fell due to a reduction in the number of workers on site.
The report explained: “A strong finding from the research was the perceived benefit of more sequencing of trades and reduced overlaps, also reducing the number of workers assigned to a particular task or area. The general view was that this had a positive impact on workflow, work quality and worker effectiveness/productivity.”
The study examined six sites as part of the study and found that all of them had increased the time they spent planning work and tasks and reported that although time consuming, taking the extra time to effectively plan tasks was beneficial.
The outcome of the report was compared to that of “lean methodologies in manufacturing”, which seek to reduce waste and improve productivity and quality.
The study was compiled by interviewing 33 managers or supervisors across six sites in the UK to assess the impact of altered practices to overcome the challenges and social distancing measures of COVID-19. Those interviews broke down into 26 drawn from tier one contractors and seven from the supply chain.
A notable improvement across the board was better housekeeping. The adjustments to schedules to prevent different trades working alongside each other has made it easier for site managers to identify who is accountable for leaving waste behind and easier to enforce site tidiness and good practices.
Better welfare and hygiene practices were also praised and have the potential to improve the safety, wellbeing and motivation of the workforce if maintained longer term.
The study concluded that there would be a high potential for old practices to creep back in post-crisis and as commercial pressures increase, but the positive outcomes should be learned from and captured and embedded in the future of construction sites.