The most important person on any construction site is a civil contractor. Though making a building is a team effort, the contractor makes the biggest difference in the project’s success. But what exactly does a civil contractor do? What are his roles and responsibilities on a site? It is important to know everything about these matters. So, below are the roles and responsibilities of civil contractors in the construction business:
Project Planning
Every construction project has a schedule describing all activities with proper time distribution and budget planning. Contractors must meet the completion date of this schedule; otherwise, they have to pay hefty penalties when they miss the deadline. The only justification for project delay can be external factors like extreme weather, riots, etc. These things are beyond the contractor’s control.
First, a civil contractor creates a plan to deliver the project on time. Some responsibilities are:
- Planning project development and execution details.
- Determining the equipment and material demands and planning their procurement.
- Forecasting possible changes and making risk mitigation strategies.
- Meeting legal and regulatory issues.
- Establishing an effective communication mode between project participants.
The contractor must create a project budget and follow it closely. The budget is beneficial for tracking project costs and detecting waste by comparing the actual expenses with the set budget.
Project Management
The civil contractor must complete the construction project on time. It involves some construction management activities like the following:
- Ensuring the fund’s availability to keep the project moving
- Purchasing raw materials with anticipation for them to reach on-site when required
- Renting or purchasing the equipment needed for the project completion
- Hiring people or subcontractors to perform specialized work
- Creating progress reports for intermediate payments
Contractors are responsible for the personnel, ensuring staff has the desired technical skills. Contractors also manage payroll for employees and payments to the subcontractor.
Project Tracking
Project tracking is important for work completed according to contract specifications and schedules. In addition, contractors must prevent disruption in tracking progress. It involves various activities, including:
- Quality control
- Cost-effective construction methods
- Ensuring the timely supply of raw materials and scheduling purchases
- The contractor is responsible for progress tracking and managing the necessary changes during construction. Of course, they must have the project scope, budget, and time in mind when making decisions.
Legal and Regulatory Issues
Contractors have responsibilities related to legal and regulatory issues. For example, they must acquire the necessary permits and licenses before project implementation, covering all applicable taxes and fees. Also, the construction process must follow building codes and local legislation.
Health and Safety Problems
The contractor is responsible for the health and safety of workers on the construction site. They implement adequate procedures and raise awareness among workers. They are also responsible for the proper equipment operations and prevention of accidents from misuse. In addition, they deal with emergencies and various unforeseen issues at the site and must report them to the supervision staff of the client on time.
Conclusion
these were the roles and responsibilities of civil contractors in the construction business. A contractor must define the goals before project initiation. As a contractor, various responsibilities are on your shoulder, which you should carefully relate to project success.
Linda Rawson, who is the founder of DynaGrace Enterprises (dynagrace.com), an 8(a) graduate and EDWOSB, contributed to the content of this blog. She is the founder of GovCon-Biz. For further information, please connect with Linda on LinkedIn, or contact her at (800) 676-0058 ext 101.
Please reach out to us at GovCon-Biz should you have any questions.
