Is your strip out contractor doing these 10 things?
- David Burton
- Oct 6, 2022
- 3 min read
Choosing the best strip out contractor for your refurbishment or fit out project can avoid unnecessary delays, cost and risk.
Here's 10 essential questions you should ask...
1. Does the contractor guarantee all strip out operatives are qualified, experienced and use the correct PPE?
Operatives performing demolition & strip out should have a green CSCS card, Asbestos Awareness and Demolition Awareness training as an absolute minimum. Umberslade goes beyond this; our 50 full-time Demolition Operatives are qualified with CCDO, UKATA & IPAF certification; we also take our operatives beyond CCDO standard with our in-house 40-module training programme managed by our full-time trainer. Our teams also always wear appropriate Personal Protection Equipment and our branded uniform.
2. Are they compliant with current Health & Safety regulations?
As well as ensuring operatives have a high-level of safety awareness (including daily team-meetings & regular tool-box talks), your strip out contractor should 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. Are you & the site team provided with the essential 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.
4. Is the strip out team constantly supervised by the contractor's own 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 to liaise with your team. We also use Team-leaders as another layer of supervision & experience. Your own Site Manager should not be burdened with managing a strip out contractor's staff.
5. Do they have appropriate insurance?
You should expect your contractor to provide in the region of £10 million Public/Product Liability and £10m Employers Liability Insurance, to protect your organisation from liability.
6. Does the contractor prepare well & have 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.
7. Can the contractor demonstrate a track record of reliability?
Who does your potential contractor currently work with? Are they able to provide references or recommendations? Are their customers a good match with your own organisation in terms of types & scale of projects and quality of work?
8. Do they have sufficient resources & cover your usual operating area?
They need to have sufficient team size, with well-maintained tools and appropriate plant and machinery on-hand, to get the job done properly and to your schedule. Ideally your strip out contractor should provide coverage across all regions of the UK that you operate in, so you don't need to use unknown suppliers in some areas.
9. Are their skips reliable and do they audit waste handling?
Some strip out companies are dependent on 3rd-parties to remove waste which can hinder your schedule and make waste disposal an unknown. 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. Is the contractor flexible and a 'team player'?
Projects constantly change and the unexpected happens; working with a contractor that is flexible to changing demands, has a highly-motivated team and adapts quickly, is the key to a smooth-running, on-schedule, cost-effective project.
Read over 80 reviews by named-customers, and see our case studies across different industry sectors.
If you are in need of soft strip out, M&E strip out, internal demolition, groundworks or any of our other award-winning services then we'd love to discuss your needs, give you a competitive quote and show you why we come highly recommended!
Midlands & North enquiries: 01675 443727
London & South East enquiries: 0203 725 6753
Email : quotes@umberslade.biz
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