Construction productivity is important to move a project to completion, especially when managing the extreme conditions found in Saudi Arabia during the summer months. These conditions can be detrimental, slowing production down, affecting worker health, and delaying project completion. If you consider how to combat these factors through designated strategies and operational management, your construction productivity during the summer months can be maintained or improved. Workers’ safety, smart work scheduling, and utilization of efficient processes will help any construction project satisfy scheduled deadlines and deliver quality, even in the most extreme heat.
Construction productivity deals with the efficiency of work completed in construction, generally measured by the amount of work completed in a defined time. It is typically the assessment of the relative efficiency in using resources (labor, materials, and equipment) to accomplish each task. Productivity may be high because the planned work is completed quickly, with good quality, and lower costs. Conversely, low productivity may lead to delays, excess costs, and inferior quality. Construction productivity is enhanced by many factors, such as pre-project planning, skilled craft workers, proper tools, and safe working conditions. It ensures projects are on time and on budget.
How to Improve Construction Productivity
Workforce productivity is considerably stalled during the ever-increasing heat; erect work structures as much as you can during the cooler day hours, for example. Start before sunrise and take a break during the hottest period of the day (midday). Work can continue on after the sun has cooled down once again. Schedule breaks to the shaded area or misting fans; use portable evaporative coolers wherever possible to keep workers cool under extreme conditions. Make sure you have plenty of water available; regular monitoring will ensure hydration is enforced and that staff receive appropriate breaks to hydrate. Use rotation or a time management strategy to manage exposure to heat. This is especially important for workers in direct sunlight.
Prefabrication will reduce construction time in the heat. For example, build aluminum frames or wall assemblies in air-conditioned factories and transport them to the site to be assembled. Also, include light-colored products where possible to minimize heat absorption. Ensure workers use breathable clothing layers and protective cooling hats. Consider offering up-skilling sessions on working safely in the heat, hydration management, and adequate rest. Scheduling software, operational efficiency tracking, and regular monitoring will increase efficiency for any project delivery where productivity is important to project completion. Combine the above to not only protect your work crews but also potentially increase productivity by 20-30 % during the extreme heat months.
1. Worker Scheduling Optimization
Optimizing work schedules is one of the best ways to mitigate the extreme summer weather and excessive heat. Construction activities can be performed early in the morning or at night when air temperatures are lower. It is much less likely a worker will suffer from heat-related illness when working in a cooler environment, and workers will retain better energy levels during shifts, ultimately resulting in increased efficiency. Shifts can also be optimized so workers can rest or take breaks for the duration of the excessive heat during the work day, which protects workers and allows work to continue progressing.
2. Temporary Shade and Cooling Systems
Creating shaded work environments can significantly improve working conditions in the summer months. Workers can generally be productive in shaded workspaces. Utilizing a variety of temporary overhead structures such as tents, shade cloths, and canopy systems can help alleviate the impact of direct sunlight exposure while working. It is also possible to include cool-down systems using misting fans or portable air-conditioning units to drop the ambient temperature. A combination of shaded workspaces and cool-down systems protects workers from extreme temperatures, mitigates tiredness, prevents heat exhaustion, and allows teams to work in warmer environments longer or in greater comfort.
3. Prefabrication and Modular Construction
Prefabrication is a construction method in which portions of the building (e.g., walls, beams, or panels) will be made off-site in a climate-controlled factory and then taken to the site for rapid assembly. This eliminates much of the outdoor work needed to take place on a site during the most extreme months of the year, improves quality control, reduces material waste, reduces project duration, and ensures the bulk of labor is performed in safer and cooler environments.
4. High-Efficiency Equipment
Use modern energy-efficient, heat-resistant construction equipment with better performance than older technology. Modern equipment is purpose-built to withstand harsh climates, require less maintenance, and be less susceptible to breakdowns due to overheating. High-efficiency equipment also reduces manual labor and speeds up construction activities, ensuring a more productive workforce under extreme heat conditions.
5. Smart Monitoring Technologies
Technology like wearable health sensors and site-wide real-time monitoring technologies will help improve worker safety and productivity. Wearable health devices will alert a supervisor if a worker is demonstrating indications of heat stress, quickly allowing them to intervene. Project management software enables a supervisor to monitor work progress and resource usage in real-time to enable quick adjustments to schedules and workloads to minimize disruptions due to climatic events.
6. Heat-Reflective Materials
Using heat-reflective construction materials will help minimize construction temperatures during work operations and aid in cooling space for the benefit of workers. Lightweight reflective colors and coatings that reflect sunlight rather than absorb it will help alleviate the temperature of the surrounding space. This will help improve the comfort of workers and reduce heat-related damages to materials and equipment to improve construction quality and completion time.
7. Worker Training & Safety Programs
Training workers on how to operate in extreme heat is an important step. Training should include topics such as recognizing the signs of heat stroke, the importance of hydration, using protective clothing properly, and establishing safe work/rest minutes. Consistent safety briefings and regular health checks will allow workers to protect themselves, resulting in fewer accidents, improved worker morale, and consistent productivity at the site during the summer months.
Tips to Increase Construction Productivity
- Drone surveys can be used to easily survey job sites and keep track of progress and possible areas affected by heat.
- Set up automated weather stations on-site to anticipate heat waves and schedule working hours around them.
- Use phase change materials (PCMs) to help control temperatures in temporary shelters.
- Using 3D printing for various construction elements will reduce the number of outdoor working hours.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) project management applications are used to inform and schedule during extreme heat.
- Use robotic machinery to complete tasks, e.g., concrete pours and bricklaying anytime of year and in extreme weather conditions.
- Provide workers with smart cooling vests to help regulate body temperatures.
- Use solar-powered cooling stations on construction sites that are remote or off-grid.
- Use Building Information Modeling (BIM) during design to pre-condition solutions and limit what must be done on-site.
- Use self-healing concrete to remove or reduce some of the maintenance needs due to thermal expansion and movement.
Wafaiyah is your partner for Construction Excellence in Saudi Arabia
Wafaiyah is one of the best construction services providers in Saudi Arabia. We are regarded as a trusted construction services provider in the region and a reputable company for quality, safety, and innovation. Our construction services in Saudi Arabia continue to impress because of our track record of completing projects within the prescribed time and without overextending the budget, regardless of unforeseen environmental conditions, including the extreme heat of the Saudi summer. We provide a complete range of construction options, project development and planning, site management, advanced engineering solutions, and high-quality construction services.
Our highly skilled workforce, modern equipment, and elite technological capabilities allow Wafaiyah to attain high productivity levels and produce outstanding results. Contractor services always carefully consider employee and environmental protections, and contractor management and client satisfaction are ensured for all services our competent and specialized team provides. Wafaiyah has built a strong reputation for performance across all commercial, residential, and industrial projects and maintains an excellent reputation for quality construction services. For any company looking for quality and reliable construction services in Saudi Arabia, Wafaiyah remains a trusted partner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of construction services does Wafaiyah provide?
Wafaiyah offers a complete construction service process including project planning, site management, engineering solutions and more all of which achieve high quality results on commercial, residential and industrial projects.
How do we keep its workers safe while working in extremely hot weather?
Wafaiyah offers smart scheduling, shaded work areas, and cooling systems for its workers to ensure task completion within a safe working environment during the extremely hot working season in Saudi Arabia.
Is Wafaiyah experienced in handling large projects?
Yes Wafaiyah has extensive experience overseeing and managing large scale construction projects within time and budget parameters using project management methodologies and engineered procedures.
Why should I choose Wafaiyah?
Wafaiyah has a reputation for professionalism, quality, and competence in all its project activities in Saudi Arabia! We will provide construction services that are reliable, safe, and efficient in a cost-effective manner.