The Critical Role Of A Project Manager
The Critical Role Of A Project Manager
When you own a construction company, it is extremely important that you hire competent and experienced people to work on your projects. Every employee is important to your success, but your project managers are critical in keeping down the cost of risk management. By understanding the real roles a project manager plays in running a work site, you can start to see where accountability lies for a large portion of your company.
Project Planning
A project manager is responsible for making sure that every project is staffed with enough of the right kind of workers to get each job done safely. The project manager creates the project schedule, and they are also responsible for developing custom safety policies for each project. The project manager is also the one who is in charge of setting up safety training sessions and making sure the workers are properly trained in all of the company’s safety policies.
Organizing The Project
Each task on a construction site has a chain of command that is responsible for the safety of the workers and the company’s property. The project manager identifies those chains of command, and puts experienced supervisors in place to monitor the project. The project manager is responsible for making sure the supervisory team understands the scope of the project, and creating a work shift schedule that ensures work site safety.
Taking The Lead
A strong project manager knows that all of the responsibilities in terms of work site safety stop at their desk. The project manager is the one who takes the lead when the project falls behind schedule, and determines safe ways to get the time table back on track. The project manager coordinates all of the different parts of the project to make sure that they work together safely, and it is up to the project manager to offer incentives and motivation to each employee when it comes to keeping the work area safe and organized.
Project Monitoring
Despite all of the planning that goes into a construction project, the work itself is extremely dynamic. Parts of the project that look good on paper can become problems when they are actually put into action on the job site. A project manager is responsible for measuring important aspects of the project and monitoring project progress. If there are problems developing with certain aspects of the project, it is up to the project manager to make decisions that can save worker lives, and save the company money.
Point Of Responsibility
When it comes to worker and job site safety, the project manager is the single point of responsibility. Even though a project manager has to delegate authority to site supervisors to make sure work gets done, the manager is still the person responsible when something goes wrong. A good project manager utilizes all of the modern tools available to keep a close eye on every project, and make key decisions when they are needed.
When it comes to risk management, there is a lot of responsibility put on the shoulders of a project manager. We consult our clients on the best traits to look for in a good project manager, and we always insist that every project manager be involved in ongoing safety training to reduce project risk as much as possible.