Construction downtime can cause additional expenses and worse, a huge profit loss to clients and vendors.

New equipment needs to be purchased in the middle of the project. Workers are prone to accident. Deadlines are not met. These are just few of the unnecessary issues in the project site that can be prevented if vendors are aware of the reasons for construction downtime.

The list goes on. Check it out below.

1. Lack of equipment

Several vendors are already aware of this reason for construction downtime, but some choose to ignore acquiring new equipment.

Imagine a vendor working on a 100-hectare construction site that needs to crush rocks to complete the project. However, they use a substitute machine to carry on the construction task that takes about five times slower than using the appropriate equipment. This does not only cause a waste of time and low productivity, but also compromising the limitations and longevity of the heavy equipment.

Before heavy machinery gets crushed, invest in the right equipment.

2. Break down of machinery

This is what we are saying. When heavy equipment or the attachments reach their limitations, they become prone to damage and wear out, and to make matters worse, they break down.

Machinery failures are costly. Although regular preventive maintenance helps ensure that machine works 100%, investing in reliable equipment saves a lot of time, money, and effort.

3. Burst hydraulic hose of excavators

We all know that a damaged hose is not allowed in the working station. Make sure you take note of the pressure recommendations on the hose and that the releif valves are set accordingly.

Putting an excavator on the sideline slows down the completion of tasks. To prevent this, check the hose to ensure it is free from any defect or damage prior the start of the project. A heavy-duty hydraulic hose is highly recommended to avoid construction downtime because of this.

Another great way to decrease the chances of burst hydraulic hoses is invest in equipment that are not prone to the pinching or rubbing of hoses.

4. Waiting for new attachments

Waiting time obviously causes delays in finishing projects. If in the middle of the project and new attachment is needed, purchasing or renting new equipment is the only option. This puts things on hold because it may take some time before attachment suppliers can supply.

When it comes to buying new equipment, make sure to contact trusted manufacturers who can deliver high quality products quickly and on time.

5. Machines being ‘red tagged’

No one wants to get “red tagged”. The good news is that this can easily be avoided. Ensure that every heavy equipment, excavator attachment, and construction machinery pass certification or comply with legislation.

In purchasing couplers, for instance, take note that the lifting eye should have an SWL (safe working load) certification. Also ensure they are compliant with the latest ISO standard ISO13031 - in short this standard details that all couplers must have a secondary looking mechanism on them.

So remember: Get the green light and avoid red tags.

6. Wet weather

Dealing with wet soil or mud during rainy days can be a headache, especially if using the wrong equipment. It causes a lot of downtime when heavy machinery gets stuck in the mud. Instead of working in the project, heavy machines or workers spare their time in lifting the large equipment out of the sticky soil.

One thing to also deal well with sticky soil is using the appropriate excavator attachments. They exist nowadays. The good thing about these attachments is that they prevent sticky mud and clay from clogging and sticking on them. This means smooth digging and trenching on construction site.

7. Accidents to workers

To run the machines, we need operators; but what is important here is ensuring the safety of each person on the project site.

Each worker should be equipped with safety gear on the construction site at all times. Guidelines should also be discussed and reminded. These things must strictly be implemented to prevent accidents.

8. Mis-management and disorganization

Things start to fall apart once the foundation begins to crack down. It is a sign of poor management.

The team working on a project should maintain good communication, especially when things don’t go well on the ground. Make everyone feel comfortable to talk about the plan, to send reports, and to ask questions from Day 1.

Most importantly, discuss the project to everyone involved.