Management of Trades
A general contractor is responsible for hiring subcontractors that specialize in each aspect of a building project. Hiring contractors is helpful, but it also makes you liable if they are injured or if they perform poorly.
Knowledge
A general contractor is in charge of obtaining the appropriate knowledge of construction materials, building planning, safety, and building codes. This applies both during and after construction. A general contractor should know everything there is to know about how long you should let wood get accustomed to a climate before you install it, at what temperature range you should pour concrete, and what type of roofing is best for your area. Based on their knowledge, contractors should be able to tell if a tradesman is qualified for the job or if they will not do quality work.
Work Flow
A general contractor is responsible for overseeing the entire building process, so if you cannot be there, a general contractor will make sure everything is in order. They will be there for all the planning, the actual building process, and the cleanup. They know exactly what order trades should come in to work and when the job is completely done. If you have questions about proper structure, building a model for the job, or anything concerning the building process, a quality general contractor can help.
License, Insurance, and Worker’s Compensation
A general contractor assumes liability for accidents, injuries, and damage to property on a job site. A license, insurance, and worker’s compensation, along with appropriate safety training work together to ensure your building project flows smoothly and no one is seriously harmed. If anything does go wrong, a general contractor is responsible for fixing the problem. In most cases, if damage occurs to property or workers, the general contractor will be in charge of providing compensation. The proper licensing, insurance and safety training is what protects general contractors from the potential liabilities that come hand in hand with their many responsibilities. Training that general contractors receive and promote should include:
preventing accidents,
promoting safety in all circumstances,
accident or injury response techniques,
protective gear guidelines,
everyday safety practices,
proper machine operating techniques,
hazardous materials guidelines, and
general workplace hazards.
If you have questions about what you should expect from a general contractor or how you can get licensing and safety training to become a quality general contractor, we can help. Do not take the responsibilities of this occupation lightly when so much is at stake for you and your workers.
