3 quick tips to help manage your subbies and operators

The relationship between equipment hirers and suppliers go beyond the signed contract. Project managers have the responsibility to nurture their organisation’s relationship with their plant or equipment suppliers since this will help in the timely completion of a construction project and a good relationship between the two parties could help reduce the risks of a misunderstanding.

Managing external equipment or plant hire can be a handful at times since it’s another added team to manage, but it can be easily done with strategic efforts from project managers and their internal team.

So how can you effectively manage an external hire? Here are a few quick tips to help you out.

1. Communication

As project managers, you have to have an open line of communication between you and your external team. Make sure that your external team are all across the scope of the project, and any other pertinent details. You have to give them sufficient information and knowledge about the project they are about to engage in, just as you would for your internal team. Having an open line of communication will also reduce the risks of committing mistakes on their part.

2. Trust

Hiring plant and equipment from an external source mean that you are not familiar with the people on their team. It might take some time to fully adjust and trust them, but it is necessary to do so. Giving your trust to your external team will boost their morale which, in turn, will increase their productivity. Trusting your external team will make them feel more “at home” while working on the job site, and feeling comfortable will make them more confident in what they are doing.

Just as you would praise your internal team for a job well done, your externally hired team also need that boost. Give your hired excavator’s operator a pat on the back every once in a while to let them know that they have been doing a great job on your project.

3. Nurturing the relationship

Remember, the external team is an extension of your in-house team, so treat them as if they were your own.

Make sure you cover all issues, concerns and added information on your toolbox talk with your entire construction team – including your external team – to ensure that they are all across what is happening to the project they are working on.

Download and customise the Toolbox Talk Agenda we have created to ensure that you have everything covered for your next team meeting.

Post updated in November 2024