All commercial construction projects, big or small, risk failure if they are not managed effectively.
Taking the right steps to handle your project and remain compliant with your legal obligations will help to ensure a smoother delivery and reduce the risk of disputes arising.
Read on to discover our useful suggestions to help you manage your project successfully.
Keep accurate records
Beyond the obvious benefits of helping you view your project progress and stay on top of deadlines, accurate record keeping ensures you have a clear paper trail of communications that can act as evidence should a dispute arise.
Contracts, agreements, site diaries, time sheets, photographs – all of these could serve as essential proof to back up your case in the event of a dispute.
Furthermore, keeping clear records is an essential part of your due diligence requirements.
As part of your Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Bribery Act 2010 obligations, you need to conduct the relevant background checks and due diligence on employees and contractors.
This can be more pertinent for construction projects where companies feel there is more risk involved, such as a high-value contract, or if the project is taking place in an area where known corruption has occurred previously.
Without clear documentation that shows you took all reasonable steps to prevent corruption and money laundering, you could be criminally liable for any bribery or money laundering that occurs under your nose.
Accurate records of your anti-bribery and AML checks and procedures will help you provide a solid defence.
As part of this, make sure any anti-bribery and AML training provided to your employees is logged clearly.
Remember to manage the site manager
A good site manager can ensure the success of your project. A poor site manager puts your project at risk of failure and corruption.
That’s why you should undergo more thorough due diligence of any site managers you hire as part of your project.
Make sure you check their references, verify their qualifications and training, and conduct a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.
Preparing a service agreement that details your site manager’s obligations will also help to prevent issues and ensure your site manager has no reason to not comply.
If your site manager is telling you they have been on site when they were absent, or turning a blind eye to serious health and safety breaches, the consequences could be catastrophic and potentially life-threatening.
As an employer, you could be held responsible for any accidents or injuries suffered by workers as a result of your site manager’s poor performance.
Make use of Building Information Modelling (BIM)
Building Information Modelling (BIM) has become an increasingly popular tool for creating and managing information on a construction project.
BIM provides a digital 3D image of the appearance of a building through each phase of construction, enabling businesses to determine any potential obstacles which might occur during the building process and make changes prior to any work being started.
This can save substantial amounts of money in the long term by improving the ability to keep projects within budget, ensure on-time delivery, and avoid any unforeseen setbacks.
The transparency that BIM provides also helps to prevent corruption. Since all aspects of the project can be viewed at any point, there is greater accountability for any actions that may not seem legitimate.
However, you cannot rely on technology alone for effective project management – you should always carry out regular site inspections to help you keep on top of developments and uncover issues before they escalate.
A site visit is also a good opportunity to check in with your site manager and make sure they are carrying out their duties properly.
Legal support to help you manage your project
We advise any commercial client to seek specialist legal advice to help with effective project management.
Our specialist construction solicitors can help you put the right contracts in place, ensure you get proper planning permission, and support you to keep your project and site safe.
We have a wealth of experience advising businesses just like yours, so you can trust us to handle your case with the utmost care and expertise.
Failure to manage is managing to fail. Contact our construction team today for specialist legal advice.