An interview with Harry McCrystal, FORM's Project Manager at Southwood Business Park in Farnborough.
We are delighted to once again have delivered a successful landlord’s CAT A fit out project for RDI at Southwood Business Park in Farnborough. We congratulate our team for rising to the challenge and for all the effort they have put into delivering this fit out project ahead of schedule and to budget.
We spoke to Harry McCrystal, Project Manager at Southwood Business Park, about keeping our team safe and adapting to the new challenges.
Q: This is your fourth fit out project at Southwood Business Park, but your first project since the COVID-19 restrictions. What has been the overall feeling regarding returning to site during these challenging times?
A: It’s nice to be back with the team and to be working alongside our sub-contractors. It brings some sort of normality to our lives during these difficult and challenging times. Implementing the new control measures definitely made the site operations and execution of the project different to what we are used to, but I think it’s safe to say that everyone involved in the project was glad to be back to work.
Q: What was the biggest challenge on this project?
A: Social distancing. Construction site generally is a social environment with people required to work together and maintain effective communication. They also want to engage in conversation or simply ask how somebody’s weekend was. It is easy to forget to keep the distance. The appropriate signage we’ve set up across site worked as a reminder to maintain social distancing.
Q: What are some of the other safety measures that were implemented?
A: Before you can enter the site, the Site Manager is required to check your temperature. If you are above 37.5 degrees Celsius you will be sent home and will be required to self-isolate. Thankfully, this was never the case on our site. We have implemented a one-way circulation system, introduced social distancing, set up multiple sanitation stations and increased our PPE provisions. The extra bit of kit we require our tradesmen to wear is a visor on occasions where they can’t be 2m apart. The visor is then disinfected after use.
Q: How important do you think having a strong relationship with the supply chain was in delivering this project?
A: We have a great team of sub-contractors who just like us, wanted to get back to work and to what they are best at. Collaboration and mutual trust were key in working together to deliver this project. Of course, we had to demonstrate to them that we have the right plan of action and the right equipment in place to make the site COVID-19 secure, which I believe we did. And just like our sub-contractors expected us to provide a safe working environment, we also expected them to have the right measures in place, including COVID-19 risk assessments, appropriate policies, driving to sites alone etc.
Q: Were there any changes to the initial programme?
A: Despite the new challenges, we have delivered the project in line with the initial programme, which we produced before COVID-19 breakout. Our team have really come together to deliver this project without any delays.
To find out how we will manage your project during coronavirus pandemic contact our team on 0207 251 9111 or via info@formfitout.co.uk.