Teamwork key to successful project outcomes

The unique Pop-up Globe theatre in Auckland, built to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, was designed by a team of international academics, working with Camelsp.

The unique Pop-up Globe theatre in Auckland, built to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, was designed by a team of international academics, working with Camelsp.

SARNZ chief executive Graham Burke has some sound advice for anyone engaging a scaffold specialist: “Work as a team.”

“It is all about relationships. If construction companies work closely together with a scaffold operation as a team, rather than jumping from contractor to contractor on every job in search of the cheapest price, they will have a better outcome. With trust, both companies can be confident of a good, fair price, and service.”

Using a member of SARNZ assures the client they will get a safe and compliant scaffold as all SARNZ members must follow the “Best Practice Guidelines for Scaffolding” to become a member.

Communication between the companies is critical, as providing reasonable notice of upcoming work, allows the scaffold firm to provide a more timely delivery, he says.

“There are lots of good examples of group housing companies with multiple ongoing projects and their scaffolders working together to create systems that create good workflow and maximise efficiencies on site.”

This could include everything from minimising the amount of scaffolding required to work safely, to ensuring platforms are installed at the correct level.

Graham says good communication is required on both sides to keep jobs flowing smoothly.

“It is just as frustrating for scaffold companies if they turn up to do their job and they can’t access the site for whatever reason. Any avoidable holdups create inefficiencies and blowouts in cost and time. Things won’t always be perfect, however most issues can be avoided with planning and understanding on both sides.”

With a planned approach, the cost of scaffold can even be offset by the increase in efficiencies and productivity, as well as the lift in safety on site, he says.

“The perception of scaffolding as an investment rather than simply an extra cost is something that we would like to promote.”

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