Planning & Preparation
PART 2
Not knowing what kind of information contractors need, and what kind of preparation they expect (if any), can add complexity to the process and can make mistakes more likely. Luckily, it’s easy to avoid the most common oversights.
Let’s look at the preparation process from the ground up.
Paperwork And Industrial Paint Projects
Is a Permit Necessary for Industrial Painting?
In general, it’s not necessary to secure permits prior to your industrial painting job. This is only called for in rare cases – especially for bonded jobs and government clients. Usually, someone in your organization will already know the requirements your project needs to meet. Most commercial facilities can paint at will without any concerns.
What About Insurance?
In most cases, you don’t need to worry about holding any type of insurance. If you aren’t sure, you should discuss the details with your insurance provider before you start on your project. Except in rare circumstances, it’s the contractor’s duty to be up to date on insurance covering work at client sites, property damage, and injuries. Be sure to get evidence that a contractor holds active, valid policies before hiring.
Setting Up For Contractor Communication And Access
In industrial painting, it is vital to have open lines of communication on both sides and regular updates from the contractor.
Designating a project manager within your team goes a long way toward maintaining clarity.
Most large enterprises have defined this role somewhere in the org chart. Smaller companies and those who have not worked with industrial painters before should take time to clarify roles and choose a project owner as the main point of contact.
In the weeks before the contractor arrives on-site, the client PM has some work to do:
- Move Equipment as Necessary - If certain equipment is in the way of surfaces to be painted, it is best if you move those items. Contractors cannot insure liability for all equipment and typically don’t have the specialized knowledge to move key equipment. When the contractor arrives, items in the project area that won’t be painted are covered up. Inaccessible surfaces will not be treated.
- Make Announcements to Affected Personnel - Your contractor will provide estimates on the timeframe. You can use these to anticipate equipment downtime and other issues. Be sure that members of your team understand how a paint project may affect their day-to-day duties and how their work routine should change, if at all. You may also need to plan follow-up announcements with your team members during certain steps in the process or if a project takes longer than planned. This is all covered in greater detail in Chapter 4, “Handling the Painting Project in Progress and Possible Downtime.
- Provide Facility Access - Most painting projects are scheduled throughout the working day. For smaller projects and very sensitive work environments, however, work might take place when employees are not on site. Regardless of timing, it’s important to establish access to utilities and amenities like bathrooms.
Contractors typically ask their clients to clarify the following before work begins:
- May contract personnel use on-site bathrooms?
- May contract personnel use on-site dumpsters?
- Is the site a smoking or non-smoking facility?
- What type of electricity is used in the facility?
- Is there access to compressed air?
- How can contractors connect to on-site water?
Of course, you are never required to allow contract staff to use on-site facilities like bathrooms and break rooms. The contractor can provide portable bathroom facilities in an agreed-upon outdoor location to minimize confusion.
Many industrial painting equipment require access to compressed air. Facilities may lack access to this, meaning contractors must provide their own air compressors on a per-diem basis.
It often saves time and money to allow contractor hookups to on-site water for power-washing the exterior surfaces to be painted. This eliminates the need for a separate water tanker.
- Resolve Any Environmental Hazards - Sometimes, there are environmental hazards like mold, asbestos, and lead paint that should be addressed before a painting project begins. These factors can endanger the health and safety of people in the area, and make certain types of painting processes impossible. Very few industrial painting contractors have the expertise to manage remediation on their own. At Preferred, we can check for lead and asbestos and provide outsourced expertise on these matters for clients who need it. Be aware that, depending on the situation, hazard resolution can add weeks to your project timeline.
- Control Hazardous Equipment and Energy Sources - Last, but certainly not least, be sure to follow OSHA procedures to lockout-tagout (LOTO) any dangerous equipment to prevent it from accidentally turning on during the painting process. This protects contractors’ safety and your equipment from the hazards of a preventable emergency.
Industrial Painting Planning: Right Way, Wrong Way
- Jim rushes the process, getting contractors on the phone right away. When they arrive on-site, they find lots of areas blocked off by equipment that hasn’t been moved. Employees wander through the work area, leading to delays. A patch of mold is discovered, now Jim has to contract a remediation service and the painting project timeline has moved forward by weeks.
- Rob takes things one step at a time, starting by making sure everybody on the worksite knows what’s going on. Clear communication keeps distractions to a minimum and ensures the contractor has access to needed facilities, saving lots of time and money.
Remember:
- It’s your responsibility to move and secure key equipment and to make areas accessible.
- Communication is essential: Keep your team members and your contractor in the loop.
- Recognize and eliminate environmental hazards before a project starts to save time.
