Site Supervisors Who Earn High Marks in Construction Performance Evaluations
The score that public works contractors ultimately receive from the client (construction performance evaluation) is quite important, as it not only leads to more contracts for the company but also serves as a record of achievement for individual site supervisors.
If your score is around the average of 70 to 79 points, you can easily pass as long as your documents and photos are organized properly.
However, the reality is that the number of construction management engineers capable of earning a construction score of 80 points or higher is limited.
So, what exactly is the difference between site supervisors who can earn high ratings and those who cannot?
Construction Performance Evaluation Scores and Thorough Implementation of Safety Documentation and Safety Measures
How thorough are the safety documents and safety measures?
――In my area, this is the most important factor in earning a "Excellent Construction" rating.
Strangely enough, site supervisors who strictly adhere to safety-related documentation consistently receive higher ratings than those who can draw up perfect construction plans and blueprints.
No matter how perfectly you organize your construction photos, if there are omissions in your safety-related documents, you won’t receive a construction performance rating of 80 points or higher.
In other words, if you want to earn a high score of 80 points or more, you should focus your efforts on the safety-related documents.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you can neglect other administrative tasks, but no matter how efficiently you submit material approval documents, stay up all night typing on a typewriter, or create exceptionally polished documents, you’ll never get a high score if you overlook safety management.
Preparation of Construction Performance Evaluation Scores and Construction Organization Records
So, what kinds of documents do site supervisors who earn high ratings actually prepare?
While all documents—such as industrial waste contracts and notifications of open-flame use—must be prepared and submitted without any errors, the one item I particularly recommend focusing on is the construction organization log.
A construction organization chart is a safety document that visually summarizes information on all companies involved in a construction project, from the general contractor to the subcontractors.
Many people think of the construction organization chart as nothing more than a visual representation of a company’s organizational structure, but it is actually a critical document that inspectors keep a close eye on. If you can prepare the construction organization chart properly, it will change how inspectors view your project. However, even with a template available, many struggle to prepare it correctly, and it is not uncommon to receive criticism on the day of the inspection.
Particular attention must be paid to construction projects involving multiple first-tier subcontractors. In such cases, as a general rule, you must not create a single construction organization register that combines all first-tier subcontractors. Separate documents must be prepared for each first-tier subcontractor. Naturally, these documents must be prepared accurately to ensure there are no errors regarding the company name, office name, type of construction license, project name, and client name.
Of course, care must also be taken to ensure that no attachments are omitted. The documents that must be attached along with the construction organization record are as follows.
- Main Page of the Construction Organization Register
- Register of Construction Engineers
- A copy of the contract between the general contractor and the first-tier subcontractor
- Chief Engineer Certification
- A copy of the contract with the client
- Certificate of Employment for a Construction Site Supervisor
- Documents required for assigning specialized technical personnel, such as a Certificate of Work Experience
- Notice of Subcontracting to a Second-Tier or Lower Subcontractor (if applicable)
Basic errors in documentation are the biggest factor preventing you from earning an "Excellent" rating. Ensuring that you have all the vast amount of safety documentation complete and in order is an absolute requirement for earning an "Excellent" rating.
Safety Measures for Achieving an "Excellent" Rating in Construction Performance Evaluations
Site supervisors who receive high ratings are the ones who thoroughly implement safety measures.
A site supervisor who isn't the type to sweat the small stuff has to be so meticulous about safety measures that it can be frustrating.
For example, when loading excavated soil into a dump truck, we use a rake to level the load so that it sits flush against the truck’s steel sides every single time, take a photo, and do not allow even the slightest overloading. Similarly, for scaffolding secured with clamps, we ensure that covers are attached to every single clamp used.
Site supervisors, who are constantly swamped with daily paperwork, tend to overlook these minor details, but inspectors, on the other hand, often focus their attention precisely on those areas.
In other words, if you want to maintain a high rating, you absolutely cannot cut corners on safety measures.
Something More Important Than the Number of Construction Projects
However, construction isn't just about getting good scores.
For a site supervisor at a large company, the number of construction projects might be seen as a measure of their own performance, and achieving a high number of projects would likely lead to a higher evaluation from the company.
However, I don't think grades are everything.
While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to get a high score, please be careful not to ask contractors to go too far in pursuit of that goal, so as not to alienate them.
I truly believe that a site supervisor who is considerate of subcontractors is more admirable and worthy of respect.
