What does the deployment of production workers in the construction industry look like?

The construction industry is a branch of the economy that encompasses all companies involved in the construction of buildings and infrastructure. This includes building construction as well as civil engineering, structural engineering and specialised construction. There are also other areas such as the maintenance of buildings and the provision of building materials.

The construction industry therefore offers a broad field of activity. From the building trade to the manufacture of components, from the finishing trade for interior fittings to the auxiliary building trade with the rental of construction machinery, there is theoretically a lot to talk about here.

However, this article is about the deployment of production employees. In addition, there are important regulations that apply to the construction industry in particular. We will therefore limit ourselves to the areas involved in the production of construction materials and parts. First of all, however, we will start with the special legal regulations that apply to the construction industry and the use of labour.

Estimated reading time: 16 minutes

What special features need to be taken into account when deploying production employees in the construction industry?

The construction industry is subject to strict rules when deploying its employees. These apply in particular to the hiring out of temporary workers. This is generally prohibited in the construction industry. However, there are exceptions. Employees can be hired out between construction companies under certain conditions.

The prohibition of temporary employment arises from section 1b AÜG (Temporary Employment Act). According to this, temporary employment is only ever permitted if it takes place between companies in the construction industry. The lending company must be subject to the same framework and social security collective agreements as the hirer for at least three years. The hirer must also have paid social security contributions regularly over the last three years.

From the first day of assignment, the leased employees are subject to the same conditions as the permanent employees. This also applies to remuneration.

How are production employees deployed in the manufacture of construction site materials?

Careful work is essential in the production of construction site materials. The deployment of production employees in this area is organised accordingly. Efficiency paired with occupational safety is particularly important here. This also places particular responsibility on management. This begins with the risk assessment and continues with the planning of protective measures.

Every employer is required to have a risk assessment drawn up. This must cover all potential risks. There are many different ways of doing this in the production of construction site materials. For example, chemical agents are used, including cement and solvents. There is also ongoing exposure to dust and noise. There is also a mechanical hazard from the machinery and equipment used.

What risks arise during the production of building materials?

All risks that exist for a specific operation must be identified. Measures must then be taken to minimise the risks or avert the dangers. This starts with personal protective equipment. For example, production employees must wear hearing protection, gloves and safety goggles.

Managers must find and define safe working procedures. They must also ensure dust extraction and noise protection. They must instruct the production employees in all these measures and ensure that they comply with all specifications in this regard.

Regular safety briefings are organised for this purpose. This means that production employees learn about the particular and specific hazards that exist in their workplace. They receive instruction on the safety measures taken and what behaviour is expected of them personally in relation to these.

What safety standards apply and how are they implemented in practice?

Employers provide personal protective equipment to production employees free of charge. They instruct them on how to use it and on the importance of using the protective equipment correctly. They also monitor whether and how the protective equipment is used.

This means that the employer has an increased responsibility towards the employee. On the other hand, the employees also have an increased responsibility. They must use the protective equipment provided correctly. They are also responsible for its condition and must inform their superiors of any anomalies. They must also comply with all safety regulations.

• The safety aspects can go so far as to also include occupational health care. . This means that it may be necessary for employees to undergo occupational health checks. This ensures that their health is protected.
• The management must Coordinate safety measures, orders and requirements. This means that the employer works with the architects, the site manager and the client and coordinates all measures required for the execution of the orders and compliance with safety.

What must be observed when handling hazardous substances?

In addition to these precautionary measures, further regulations and instructions for handling hazardous substances must be observed. These substances include solvents and assembly foams. Separate instructions for operation and handling are drawn up for these and production employees must know and observe them.

In addition to teamwork, this area also often involves working alone. This means that production employees take on tasks that they complete without the direct involvement of others. This often also means that they work separately from their colleagues. In such cases, there is also an increased risk.

This does not mean that more injuries or accidents occur here than when working with a team. Rather, the risk is that an accident occurs or an injury is sustained without anyone being available to intervene or help. This is a particularly high risk if the person affected is no longer able to help themselves, for example if they faint due to chemical vapours. This means that special safety measures must be taken when working alone in order to rule out precisely such cases.

Who is responsible for occupational health and safety?

Occupational health and safety is therefore not just a task for the technicians who design the machines to be as safe as possible. It is also a task for management, who must promote occupational health and safety. This includes actively setting an example and setting a positive example for others.

This also includes understanding that occupational health and safety is an ongoing process. Whenever an accident occurs, is barely averted, or a weak point in safety planning arises, occupational safety must be improved. It is therefore important for the management to continuously review the safety measures and further develop the concepts.

Against this backdrop of high standards of safety and occupational health and safety, production employees are deployed in the manufacture of construction site materials. There are various tasks to be performed here, ranging from operating the machines to preparing the materials and dispatching them. The production employees often work in a team and ensure that bricks, precast concrete parts and other materials are efficiently produced in large quantities.

How are production employees deployed in the manufacture of construction site materials?

Production employees play a central role in the production of construction site materials. They are significantly involved in the production, processing and packaging of products such as construction films, protective systems, fastening elements or insulating materials. They are deployed in various areas of production - from machine operation and quality control to order picking and preparation for dispatch. They ensure that everything runs smoothly and contribute to compliance with quality and safety standards.

• In detail, the deployment of production employees begins with material preparation. During this phase raw materials are received. These include cement, gravel, water and sand. They mix these and ensure the correct dosage.
• In the actual production process, the production employees operate the required machines. These are conveyor belts, mixers, presses and other devices. It is important that the machines work properly and produce the right materials in the right quality and quantity.
• This area also includes quality control . This means that the production employees check whether the building materials are of the right quality and have the required properties. If there are any defects, they identify them and make corrections.
• At every stage of packaging and storage the production employees take on the task of packaging the building materials correctly so that they are suitable for transport. Alternatively, they give them to the warehouse and ensure that they can be easily found and used later.
• At every stage of production, the production employees are also responsible for the cleaning and maintenance responsible. This means that they ensure the cleanliness of the work and production facilities and carry out simple maintenance work. This includes lubricating the machines where necessary and replacing wearing parts.

Transport and storage of materials

Within production, the employees are also responsible for the transport of materials. They are responsible for transporting them from station to station in production, for example. If necessary, they also take them to the individual construction sites where they are to be deployed.

Sometimes production employees are also involved in the development of new products. This means that they help to find new recipes or design new elements in order to master new challenges and requirements.

Some production employees are also involved in loading construction site vehicles. This means that they provide the materials and place them on the vehicles, depending on which and how many of them are needed.

What tasks do the production employees perform during the assembly of components?

In the assembly of the components, the production employees are tasked with putting the components together, which then form the finished product as a whole. This begins with the preparation of the materials, continues with the assembly itself and also includes the operation of machines and the use of tools. Here, too, there is ongoing quality control and, in some cases, the final step is packaging. It depends on whether the assembly takes place in the factory or on site.

Preparing the materials involves various tasks. This includes sorting the individual elements. These must be shaped into the correct form. This means that they are bent, cut or otherwise moulded into the correct dimensions and shape.

Holding devices must also be installed for the connection. This can be done by drilling or attaching hinges, for example. Of course, the production employees also clean the various elements and process the surfaces where necessary.

In the actual assembly process, the production employees then join the individual elements together. To do this, they use drawings and specific instructions. They also use various tools and materials. These include screwdrivers as well as screws and plugs. They glue, solder and weld the parts together as required. It is important that durable connections are created that can withstand the loads in the intended use of the components.

Machines and tools are used during assembly and for preparation. These include saws, drills, presses and more. The production employees are not only responsible for operating them, they also clean them and carry out minor maintenance work.

How is quality control carried out in the assembly process?

Quality control is carried out at every step of the assembly process, as well as on delivery and at the end during packaging. This means that the production employees check whether the individual elements have been assembled correctly and can withstand the expected loads. They also check whether the end products meet the quality standards. This includes the surface finish as well as the dimensions.

After assembly, the next step is packaging and dispatch or storage. This means that the finished products are now prepared to be shipped to the customer or to survive longer periods in the warehouse. The right packaging materials are selected and the components are placed inside so that they are not damaged during transport.

The production employees are also responsible for the entire logistics. This means that they load and unload the conveyor belts, load the machines and transport the materials, elements and components within the plant. They are also responsible for storing and labelling the materials, elements and parts.

Some of the production employees are also entrusted with special tasks. This includes installing and connecting electrical devices. There is also work on pipes for water and ventilation, as well as the installation of insulation materials.

How do production employees carry out quality control in the construction industry?

Quality assurance is carried out continuously at every single stage of production. This begins with delivery and ends with the packaged end product. The production employees check the materials, the elements, the components and the individual processes. They use the plans, specifications and standards for this. It is not only important to comply with the quality standards. In the end, the building itself must be safe and functional. It must last for years and must not endanger anyone. To ensure this, various methods are used in quality assurance.

Various quality standards and objectives are defined as early as the planning and preparation stage. These are then used to measure the processes and results later on. Inspection plans are drawn up and the right personnel are selected for the inspections and trained for the task.

The inspection of the material relates to its quality and compliance with the specifications directly upon delivery. This ensures that the latter can achieve the desired standards even before it is used for production.

During the execution of the processes, the production employees in quality control constantly check that the work is carried out in accordance with the requirements. In addition to compliance with quality standards, they also find ways to make production even more efficient.

How does the final quality control inspection work?

Documentation is prepared for all tests and inspections. The final stage is acceptance. This means that quality control checks that the services provided and the end products meet the requirements before the customer or client does. The main focus here is on customer satisfaction, safety, compliance with legal standards and the avoidance of legal claims, for example for rectification or compensation.

As part of quality control, companies also work with independent bodies that carry out external audits. This enables certifications to be achieved, certifying the quality of the products on the one hand and avoiding legal claims on the other.

Should defects nevertheless occur, the production employees document them. They also initiate steps and measures to rectify them. Here too, the safety aspect takes centre stage and therefore requires a responsible approach.

Whose task is quality assurance?

However, quality assurance is not just the task of the production employees who work explicitly in this area. Rather, it is the task of all employees. This means that all production employees, whether in assembly, packaging, delivery or quality control, must work together. Everyone plays their part by watching out for defects, faults and malfunctions, reporting them immediately, and helping to rectify them.

Employees also use checklists in quality control. It is easy to forget something. However, working conscientiously with checklists prevents this from happening. They help to check all the important points and ensure that even small details are not overlooked.

Of course, there is also regular training for production employees within quality control. They learn all about the quality standards and the latest processes for checking them and for use in production.

There is also open communication between everyone involved. It's not about finding faults and pointing the finger at the guilty parties. Instead, everyone pulls together to achieve the best possible result. That's why everyone involved exchanges information in order to derive the best information from all the data.

The production employees also work in quality control. To do this, they use digital tools that show the finished product and visualise its properties, for example. This provides employees with a reference. They can also work with special devices, such as PlanRadar, which checks the surface of the parts and enables them to detect irregularities.

Conclusion

The construction industry is subject to strict rules regarding the hiring out of workers. For their part, production workers are also subject to strict health and safety regulations. This means, for example, that they must wear personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety goggles and breathing masks. Special rules also apply in cases where production employees have to carry out work on their own.

The production employees take delivery of the materials. They mix them according to special recipes, prepare the elements, combine them into components and much more. They also operate, clean and maintain the machines used in the process.

The production employees also work in quality control. Here, they use classic checklists, modern 3D models and an open exchange with colleagues to detect and rectify errors and generally optimise processes.

Related topics:

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• Production employee in the electrical industry
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• What tasks do production employees perform in the textile industry?
• Temporary employment in production

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