The construction industry accounts for a significant portion of the UK’s vibrant economy, representing over £72 billion in new orders in 2021 alone. As such, it is an extremely shrewd industry to build a business within – but doing so is not the simplest of endeavours.
In a saturated, well-regulated and competitive construction industry, there are numerous considerations that a new contracting firm needs to bear in mind. Chief amongst them, perhaps, is equipment. Having the right tools to hand is nothing short of vital for skilled builders and contractors to thrive on-site. Tools and machinery contribute not only to efficiency and precision but also safety on construction sites. What are some essential provisions for the work site in 2023?
Safety, Ease and Prioritising Employees
For a contractor business to succeed, prioritising the safety of employees and the ease with which they can work is paramount. Fostering a positive and proactive culture of health and safety ensures productivity and motivation hand-in-hand with legal compliance; meanwhile, taking active steps to remove on-site difficulties or barriers to progress can improve safety in its own right – while also proving to employees that their superiors have their best interests at heart. One simple way to address both of these factors is to invest in equipment.
Essential Tools for Contractors in 2023
The construction industry has always relied on a wide range of tools to facilitate various tasks, but in 2023 the landscape has shifted somewhat. Here are some of the crucial tools and equipment that contractors should be investing in:
Power Tools
No construction site, whatever its size, is complete without the presence of power tools. All manner of versatile and specific tools are useful to workers, from drills and saws to nail guns and sanders. Smaller power tools quicken the pace of handy work, while larger industrial power tools enable contractors to complete large-scale deformation and renovation tasks with ease.
Excavation Equipment
Speaking of which, arguably the largest industrial equipment the modern work site will see comes in the form of excavation machinery. Wheel loaders, bulldozers, and backhoes are indispensable for earthmoving, trenching, and site preparation; they are often rented by construction firms, but ownership makes the larger commercial build more profitable in the long term – while bringing maintenance and safety measures in-house.
Storage
Storage is an underrated provision on work sites, particularly portable storage solutions. Using the Milwaukee Packout range on a worksite enables the creation of modular equipment storage areas, with the flexibility to move them around and keep them out of the way. Implementing robust storage infrastructure ensures tools are kept safely out of the path of workers, minimising trip accidents and other accidental injuries.
Building Information Modelling (BIM) Software
Here, it is important to acknowledge the importance of technological development to safety on contemporary work sites. BIM is one part of the equation, being a revolutionary software solution that enables contractors to create digital models. These models simulate construction processes, allowing for better planning, coordination, and visualisation of a work in progress.
