The COVID-19 coronavirus has changed the way companies and individuals go about daily life. The sweeping pandemic has altered how we buy groceries, kept children home from school and led non-essential businesses to close their doors. For many construction companies still at work, however, there are questions regarding how to keep equipment running safely when maintenance services are limited.
Here is a bit of advice for companies concerned about routine maintenance availability amid the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Limit Wear and Tear When Possible
There’s no getting around the fact that you need the right equipment to get your jobs done. But, is there a smarter way to spread out those resources? Consider alternating which vehicles travel to job sites, for instance, and put extra thought into the details surrounding your work. Seeking out shorter travel routes can protect your tires and lead to less stress on your engine. Meanwhile, planning jobs in ways that allow for some equipment to remain back at home base — while some heads out to the field — means you have backups, should breakdowns or similar issues arise.
Consider Alternative Maintenance Approaches
In certain situations, routine maintenance is available but is being carried out in creative ways. It could be that your auto garage can perform tune-ups and oil changes, but during abbreviated hours. For small repair and maintenance work, some companies are even requesting that you remain inside the vehicle to avoid contact. Reach out to your maintenance companies for a better understanding of what services are — and aren’t — available. And try to remain flexible. Changes to your routine might be frustrating, but most companies are doing their best.
Keep Safety Front and Center
It might be tempting to tackle basic repair and maintenance work in-house, but certain work can be dangerous. Find ways to keep your equipment healthy without asking your crew to overstep their bounds. For instance, adding concrete removal chemicals to your drums is a safe way to help stave off buildup. Asking an untrained team member to step inside the drum to chip out concrete can result in damaged equipment, injuries and death.
Every business is working its way through these uncertain times differently, but we’re in this together. If you have questions related specifically to protecting your cement mixing drums during times like these, check out our Keeping Your Cement Mixer Cleaner: Maintenance Between Concrete Chipping Sessions blog post. Of course, you’re always welcome to contact General Chipping directly with any questions you might have. We’re glad to help!
