Obtaining your Massachusetts contractor license isn’t an end goal, but rather a milestone on a continuous educational journey. That’s because many of the regulations, laws, and best practices will vary from year to year, and it’s a construction supervisor’s responsibility to stay abreast of these changes. As a result, the state of Massachusetts requires all…
Unfortunately, the types of supervisors that people tend to talk about the most are ineffectual, uninformed, and/or grouchy bosses. We don’t hear enough stories describing skillful and empowering supervisors – perhaps because it’s much easier to be the former than the latter. But in the construction industry, an incompetent supervisor not only can make the…
From GPS trackers to drones to autonomous vehicles, an impressive array of technological wonders can be found on today’s construction sites. So why do best practices pertaining to overhead crane guidance call for using… hand signals? Nothing Beats Hand Signals After all, wouldn’t large digital signs be more visible to a crane operator? Perhaps, though…
When you look at some of the world’s oldest structures that are still standing like the Pyramids, the Colosseum, or the Great Wall of China, it’s difficult to imagine how ancient peoples managed to build them without today’s technology. Perhaps in a few decades, we’ll be looking at more “modern” buildings and wondering how they…
Two of the most important duties of a construction supervisor are to advocate for his subordinates and to lead by example. The area in which these two duties intersect is safety. After all, a good construction supervisor tries to protect the well-being of the workers who report to him, and he also protects the interests…
To a layperson, operating a lever hoist may appear to be simple. In reality, there are a host of precautions, rules, and safeguards that must be observed before and during the operation of the hoist. Here are twenty of the most important ones: Before work begins: 1. Make sure you are properly trained on how…
If you’re handy with your hands and you like helping people, then you might be successful in Massachusetts as a home improvement contractor. However, you can’t just start marketing your services and bidding on contracts. Before you begin, you must register as a home improvement contractor with the state. Some of the rules and exemptions…
In Massachusetts, it is relatively simple to obtain your hoisting license. All you have to do is submit your license application, pay the $75 fee, and pass the state-administered exam. But what types of skills will you need if you want to flourish as a hoisting operator? In order to be successful in your hoisting…
An excellent construction supervisor knows everything about his or her project from top to bottom. One of the most important duties of a construction supervisor is to protect all of the employees on the job site from head to toe. This emphasis on worker safety starts with personal protective equipment, or PPE. Here is a…
Amish communities like those in New York, Pennsylvania, and other U.S. states are known for their barn raising events which feature basic materials, few machines, and lots of manpower. While that construction formula was common in the 19th and early 20th century, today’s construction projects employ much more modern technology to get the job done.…