Role of skilled workers in the construction industry

CONSTRUCTION is a physically challenging and demanding industry requiring much physical work in the elements, long working hours and often more than a five-day week, employment on a “contract” or even “trade on a contract” basis.

- JOHN SMALLWOOD

Furthermore, it is often transient in nature, which adds to the challenges due to working away from home and family.

In terms of construction, regardless of how menial an activity or task may be, it is an integral part of a project.

In terms of cost, over-excavation for column bases can result in excessive concrete wastage and financial loss.

In terms of quality, placing of concrete requires proper compaction to avert segregation and “honeycombing”, and the compromising of quality and schedule requirements.

In terms of client and principal agent satisfaction upon “handover”, clean floors and windows are important.

Therefore, although excavating manually, placing concrete, and cleaning floors and windows may be deemed menial activities by uninformed industry participants, they are key activities that require skills, hence, there is no such term as an “unskilled” worker.

Consequently, at the very least, the term “general” worker should be used, which category often assist semi-skilled and skilled workers.

Furthermore, there is the health, safety, and well-being (HSW) parameter, which requires the elimination or mitigation of hazards and risks arising from excavating, placing concrete, and cleaning floors and windows.