As solar construction continues to expand, many project managers are learning about common mistakes the hard way. Fortunately, many of these are avoidable via proper planning and having the right team in place. By learning from these mistakes—hopefully before you’ve made them—you can avoid them on your next solar project.
Read NowWe have bad news for you: There is no stock formula for accurately determining site preparation costs for construction, power, and solar projects. Unique site conditions, project requirements, and local regulations are all contributing factors to the overall cost of site access. Unfortunately, the site access costs from your last project don’t translate to the next. The terrain could be wildly different, there might be protected species, or the temporary road could need to be a different length. If you can’t copy and paste from your last project, or if you have never dealt with site preparation, how do you estimate the costs? We have good news! You don’t have to do it on your own. The YAK ACCESS team has decades of experience with site access solutions across a broad range of industries and locations, so you can rely on our deep knowledge to get a quality proposal to incorporate into your overall project budget.
Read NowELECTROCUTION IS A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG CONSTRUCTION WORKER FATALITIES, ACCOUNTING FOR 8.5% OF TOTAL FATALITIES IN 2018. The primary cause of death over 50% of these fatalities was contact with live electrical equipment and wiring. Even though overhead electrical work has long held consistent standards, safety protocols for ground crews on de-energized sites are often more ad-hoc and improvisational, which means increased risk for workers.
Read NowIt’s almost a guarantee that there will be change orders during a construction or utility project. Although often associated with the construction phase, change orders can occur during the site access phase. Avoiding extra costs early in the project is one of the keys to staying on budget, which is why it’s so important to understand why change orders might occur on a site access project so you can prevent them from happening in the first place.
Read NowConstruction delays are a fact of life at every stage of a project, including during construction access. The earlier a delay occurs, the more it can impact the overall timeline and budget, which is one reason why it’s so important to avoid construction access delays as much as possible. You can’t control the weather, crew members calling in sick, or a subcontractor’s schedule. However, understanding what you can control and preparing for unexpected scenarios will allow you to minimize delays and improve your chances of staying on schedule.
Read NowEvery project manager in the construction, utility, or clean energy industry has experienced unexpected situations that cause project delays or impact the budget. While it’s impossible to plan for every eventuality, the more prepared you are, the better you’re able to mitigate risk. One of the keys to success is early site access planning.
Read NowRenewable energy projects—including both solar and wind—are on the rise, and the trend is expected to continue. This means more sites will be allocated for wind and solar farms in the coming years. Those sites will need to be accessed by crews and heavy machinery to install the equipment, and they will also need to be accessible for ongoing maintenance. Understanding the types of access mats best suited for these types of projects is important for project managers, especially during the early planning phases of a project.
Read NowConstruction safety plans are essential for all projects that involve heavy equipment, vehicles, and other potential hazards that could impact workers and anybody else on the site. When you include power lines in the mix, it adds another layer of safety considerations for your plan. Although you’ll need to adapt to the unique needs of every project, we have gathered some of the basics to guide you in developing a construction safety plan for power line maintenance and rebuilds.
Read NowThe use of wind energy is on the rise both in the US and internationally, meaning there will be greater demand for supporting industries like access construction. Wind energy has the great benefit of relatively low maintenance, but you should not underestimate the initial work needed to install a wind farm. To transport wind turbines across the country, transfer them to their final destination, install the equipment, get the turbines online, and maintain them, you need the right teams with the right equipment and at the right time. One key piece of the puzzle to keep in mind for your next wind energy project? Crane matting. Want to learn more about how we help provide you the right equipment and at the right time? Check out our innovative YAK Crane mats.
Read NowPower line workers face a range of potential safety hazards, including tripping, falling, and experiencing electric shocks. Taking steps to mitigate these hazards is not only required by regulators, but also the right thing to do. Unfortunately, some of the methods often employed at power line sites don’t always provide sufficient protection.
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