10 Things to consider when choosing your strip out contractor
- David Burton
- Jul 4, 2017
- 3 min read
Choosing the best strip out contractor for your refurbishment or fit out project can avoid unnecessary delays, cost and risk.
We outline the top 10 things you should insist on...
1 All operatives on your project should be fully trained, certified & use PPE
You should expect labourers to have CSCS certification as a minimum and avoid contractors that rely on agency staff to perform actual strip out work. Umberslade's Demolition Operatives are full-time employees with CCDO, UKATA & IPAF trade body certification; our teams always wear appropriate Personal Protection Equipment and our branded uniform.
Umberslade CCDO operatives at work in face-fitted respirators
2 The contractor should be fully compliant with current Health & Safety
regulations
Your strip out contractor should also carry out regular site visits by a qualified Health & Safety Advisor to verify standards are being maintained and to minimise the risk of HSE penalties.
3 Your strip out partner should provide clear & simple documentation
It is vital that your strip out contractor provides documentation that covers the scope & sequence of work on the strip out project, including method statements with risk assessments. This helps to keep all project personnel fully informed, coordinated and most importantly; safety aware.
An experienced SSSTS Site Manager should always be on location
4 The demolition team should be managed by an experienced Site Manager
Umberslade Site Managers are SSSTS or SMSTS qualified with at least 5 years’ experience and always present on site to manage our operatives and for liaison with your team. Your own Site or Project Manager should not be burdened with managing a strip out contractor's staff.
5 Your strip out contractor should have appropriate insurance
You should expect your contractor to provide in the region of £5 million Public/Product Liability and £10m Employers Liability Insurance, to protect your organisation from liability.
6 Your contractor should have previous experience of the project type
To avoid disruption, delays and potential disputes down the line, you need a contractor that specifies the work properly - offering a site survey, pricing accurately and understanding the challenges unique to your project; offering advice on the most efficient & cost-effective solution.
Your contractor should have experience relevant to your project
7 Your chosen contractor should have a track record of reliability
Who does your potential contractor currently work with? Are they able to provide references or recommendations? Are their current partners a good match with your own organisation in terms of project types, scale and standard of work?
8 Your contractor should have the appropriate resources at their command
They need to have sufficient team size, well-maintained tools and appropriate plant and machinery on-hand to get the job done properly and to the agreed schedule. Ideally the strip out contractor's geographic area of operation should cover your own.
Ideally, your strip out contractor should run their own skip fleet to avoid delays
9 The strip out partner should run their own skips and audit waste handling
Umberslade run their own skip fleet, segregate waste on site, track every shipment and only use approved waste handling facilities; this avoids delays and ensures waste is handled in an environmentally responsible manner.
10 Your contractor should be responsive and work effectively with your team
Projects constantly change and the unexpected happens; working with a contractor that is easy to contact, has management on site, communicates well and will adapt quickly to change is the key to a smooth-running, on-schedule, cost-effective project.
If you are in need of commercial strip out, internal demolition, groundworks or any of our other award-winning services (across the UK) then we'd love to discuss your needs, get you a fast quote and show you why we come highly recommended!
Umberslade enquiries hotline : 01675 44 3727
Email : quotes@umberslade.biz
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