The COVID-19 epidemic has posed enormous hurdles to several industries, including construction. With many states and nations enforcing stay-at-home orders or lockdowns, construction companies face supply chain interruptions, ill workers, slower payment processing, and a declining housing market, among other concerns. This discussion post will examine the COVID-19 crisis’s influence on the building sector from various perspectives. This covers the discussion over whether the building is an essential service in society and how the pandemic has affected the construction sector. Moreover, the post will give survival tactics and propose governmental and regulatory reforms that may assist the business in overcoming this problem.
The issue of whether building constitutes a necessary service during the COVID-19 epidemic has been debated. Others say that development is required to maintain essential infrastructure and provide dwellings for the people (Ogunnusi et al., 2020). For instance, developing hospitals, roads, and other vital infrastructure is necessary to guarantee that the health system can function properly throughout the pandemic. Housing building is also essential to provide shelter for people in need and to avoid homelessness. On the other hand, some say that building is not necessary and that construction workers are in danger of getting and spreading the virus (Ogunnusi et al., 2020). This is especially true for construction employees who work close to one another, making social distance problematic. In my opinion, I think construction of infrastructure is a necessity during the pandemic since, through them the world is able to get quality services.
The pandemic of COVID-19 has considerably influenced the construction sector, impacting different supply chain elements. For example, the pandemic has caused delays in acquiring building supplies due to factory shutdowns and transit delays (Alsharef et al., 2021). Moreover, border closures and trade restrictions have impacted the supply of some materials. As a result, building firms have been forced to look for other materials, which may result in increased prices and delays. Another effect of the epidemic has been a decline in the workforce owing to worker illness or the requirement for quarantine (Alsharef et al., 2021). As such project timetables have been pushed back, and project prices have risen, as contractors have had to employ substitute personnel or pay overtime to finish projects on time. Additionally, the pandemic has decreased demand for new construction projects, as many prospective purchasers would prefer to invest in new residences owing to economic uncertainties (Alsharef et al., 2021). Therefore, building businesses’ revenues have decreased, and the housing industry has slowed.
The COVID-19 epidemic has substantially damaged the construction sector, making it challenging for contractors to maneuver through this crisis. Contractors must adopt innovative ways to limit the impact of the pandemic to survive and grow in these challenging times. Strict safety regulations on building sites are one successful method (Raoufi & Fayek, 2020). These might consist of regular temperature checks, masks and gloves, periodic sanitization of instruments and equipment, and social distancing measures. Using innovative technology in the building business is another method (Raoufi & Fayek, 2020). The epidemic has hastened the deployment of virtual and augmented reality solutions for remote site inspections and project assessments by contractors. Drones for site assessments and self-driving heavy equipment for specific tasks can lessen the requirement for human labor and the danger of infection.
Legislative and regulatory adjustments may be required to assist the building industry in overcoming the pandemic’s obstacles. These reforms include stronger safety standards on construction sites, additional financial assistance for contractors and employees affected by the crisis, and loosening zoning and planning laws to allow for speedier project approvals (Trotter, 2021). Furthermore, government agencies may need to speed up infrastructure projects to stimulate the economy and create jobs. These policy and regulatory reforms might be critical in assisting the building sector in adapting and surviving the pandemic and beyond. For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States has issued rules for construction businesses to safeguard employees against COVID-19 (Majumder & Biswas, 2020). Construction has also been designated an essential service in several areas, allowing it to continue working during lockdowns.
References
Alsharef, A., Banerjee, S., Uddin, S. M. J., Albert, A., & Jaselskis, E. (2021). Early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the United States construction industry. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1559. Web.
Majumder, S., & Biswas, D. (2020). COVID-19 Impacts construction industry: Now, then and future. COVID-19: Prediction, Decision-Making, and Its Impacts, 115–125. Web.
Ogunnusi, M., Hamma-Adama, M., Salman, H., & Kouider, T. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic: The effects and prospects in the construction industry. International Journal of Real Estate Studies, 14(Special Issue 2). Web.
Raoufi, M., & Fayek, A. R. (2020). Identifying actions to control and mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on construction organizations: Preliminary findings. Public Works Management & Policy, 26(1). Web.
Trotter, S. (2021). Ways of being together during the COVID-19 pandemic: Support bubbles and the legal construction of relationships. Frontiers in Sociology, 6. Web.