Should Your Contracting Business Operate at Night?
When the summer days get hot, you might wonder how you can work on the jobsite at a lower temperature. The idea of working at night may seem like the most obvious solution. You can avoid traffic and shave several degrees off the daily high temperature. But working at night isn’t always perfect, either. Here’s what you need to know about planning a nighttime work schedule.
Consider Your Project Obligations
Before you set hours for the project, you should start by considering your project obligations. It’s wise to evaluate the time that you have to complete your portion of the project, and how many shifts you will need to run each day to make that happen. Be sure to factor in inspections and meetings with the client or other contractors, because they may not be able to meet the hours you’re hoping to set. Be wary of putting yourself in the position where you have to be on the site around the clock. That’s not a reasonable expectation, and it will mean you are more likely to miss out on important aspects of the building process.
Talk to Your Employees
If you have a handful of employees you’ll be working with on the jobsite, it’s important to get their input as well. Asking someone to work a shift that is slightly different from their normal schedule may not be a big problem. On the other hand, it may not be reasonable to expect someone to completely turn around their sleeping and off-work lives to meet a single project. Start with an input session where you propose a few different ideas and get feedback. It’s possible that people who have concerns about working at night may be able to adjust if given adequate support.
Follow Lighting and Noise Guidelines
Working at night can create unique conditions on the jobsite, but the most obvious is an increased need for lighting. Without the benefit of natural lighting, you’ll need to ensure that every location has a consistent form of lighting that is bright enough for the space and the activity. You may want to consider multiple options, including spotlights that can be attached to nearby structures on demand. Keep noise regulations in mind, as well. If you are working in a residential area, you may be limited from certain types of activities during common sleeping hours.
Ensure Safety
Injuries can happen on the jobsite at any point during the day, but they are more likely at night. People who are unaccustomed to working at night may have a higher chance of falling asleep while operating equipment. You should give people adequate time to adjust and provide regular breaks. If you are working in areas that have traffic nearby, or limited lighting options, you may want to add safety gear. For example, wearing a vest with reflective material may help to protect people who are working on the side of the road or near a highway at night.
Keep a Predictable Schedule
Experts say that keeping a consistent schedule is the best way to ensure that you can be awake when you need to be. You may not always be able to work the exact same hours for every project. However, you can give employees a predictable schedule that has them working most of the same hours each day. That allows them to set a sleeping schedule that is consistent and in line with the project expectations. You’ll be more likely to get better results and a lower risk of injury that way.
As a business owner, one of the things you get to decide is your company’s working hours. Before you can do that, you need to get your contractor license. For more information about the benefits of preparing for the contractor licensing exam, visit CSLS today!
