State of NH Renovation Project

We're happy to announce that we have been selected to perform a pharmacy and miscellaneous renovation project at New Hampshire Hospital in Concord. 

The project will involve the complete fit-up of a new pharmacy, the renovation of the HR office and meeting space, the construction of new A.D.A. bathrooms and a new gift shop within the 36 Clinton Street facility. 

The scope-of-work will include interior demolition; new walls, floors, and ceilings; interior finishes; and electrical, mechanical and HVAC system upgrades.

Read press release... 

Safe Snow Removal Tips

With winter upon us and snow in the forecast again, here are some Snow Blower Safety Tips.

• Dress properly to not only keep yourself warm but also safe. 
• Wear boots with adequate traction.
• Wear ear and eye protection.
• Avoid long scarves or other loose clothing that could become caught in the snow blower's moving parts.

• Before you begin -
• Familiarize yourself with the manual and how to operate the snow blower, if new to using it.
• Inspect the area for items that may be in your path like tree branches.
• Check the snow blower's oil and gas level before each use.
• Always start the machine outside.

• While clearing snow -
• Watch where you're aiming the snow and avoid directing it towards people, cars, windows, lampposts or other items that could be damaged by debris. 
• Keep your hands and feet away from all moving parts.
• Never override automatic shutoff features.
• Operate the blower at a speed you're comfortable keeping up with. 
• Never reach into the blower shoot with your hands for any reason, even when the machine is off. Use a stick to loosen debris or packed snow/ice. 

•  Proper maintenance - 
• Check the spark plug at the start of the season and replace if necessary.
• Maintain proper tire pressure for best handling.
• Run all of the gas out of the snow blower or drain it at the end of the season. 

OSHA Injury & Illness Reporting

Recent provisions to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)’s record keeping rule will take effect on January 1, 2017. Are you aware of what will change? 

Shipyard Renovation Project Award

We're happy to report that we were awarded a renovation project at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in building 184. 

The initiative is being conducted to accommodate the relocation of personnel from another building, which is scheduled for demolition. 

The scope-of-work will encompass select interior demolition, reconstruction of floors and utilities, lighting upgrades, the relocation of steam water and sewer systems, and the construction of a complete pre-fabricated office building within the shipyard’s current paint blasting facility. 

Brookstone Builders has enjoyed our professional business relationships with both the Navy for many years and has also collaborated on several projects with CCI, the primary contractor, of Augusta Maine.

Read press release...

General Contractor vs. Construction Manager

General contractors and construction managers play distinct roles in the construction industry and there are a number of areas which clearly set them apart from each other. 

The role of general contractor most often involves taking the helm of a construction project. They are typically responsible for assembling teams that will perform specific tasks on the construction project, maintaining personnel for administrative and or supervisory roles, and hiring sub-contractors, suppliers and other professionals for specific construction related tasks. The general contractor usually manages the schedule and project’s quality as well.

The construction manager usually serves as an agent to the owner and is solely responsible for nearly all aspects of the construction project. Unlike a general contractor, a construction manager tends to be more closely aligned with the building owner, and is essentially entrusted with making decisions on behalf of the owner. 

Read the full article...

Safety Violations

Which safety violations occur most often on a construction job site today? According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the worst offenses have predominately remained the same over time and fall-protection accidents top the list. Following in second and third place are faulty ladders and inefficient eye, face and head protection. See the full report issued by OSHA here.

Emergency Preparedness

According to a National Safety Council poll, one third of U.S workers do not feel well trained in emergency practices while 75 percent of managers and supervisors say their employees are well trained to handle an emergency. To bridge the current gap in perception, safety leaders should take this time to re-assess and improve their current level of emergency preparedness.
Here's a 3-step guide from online training provider ClickSafety.

Hearing Matters

Do you protect your ears and hearing when working in a loud environment? Twenty-two million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise at work each year. Here's information from the US Dept of Labor on why Hearing Matters.

Military Design/Build Award

We are proud to announce that the US Navy has recently selected Brookstone Builders, Inc. to perform an interior and exterior renovation project. 

This design/build initiative will involve exterior renovations to a historic building (B99) at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. 

The scope-of-work will encompass a total slate roof replacement with copper trim and downspouts, historic brick repairs and retooling, window maintenance and painting. The project will also include the construction of a new boiler room along with the installation of a new furnace and a natural gas feed.

Read press release...

Working in Occupied Space

On many occasions we find ourselves engaged in an expansion or renovation project that involves working in or around client-occupied space.

As you may be aware, this type of work requires some additional attention, such as enhanced safety protocols as well as heightened levels of noise and dust abatement. It's also important to maintain consistent and reliable communication to ensure that all parties are aware of work and delivery time tables, and overall scheduling must be flexible to accommodate a client's peak business periods or special events.

Here's a short video that summarizes the intricacies associated with working in or around client occupied space:

Scheduling Pitfalls!

Scheduling is an important factor for projects of all types and sizes, as mistakes associated with timing, material deliveries and processes can be very costly.

According to a study published by Angotti Engineering of CA, three of the top project schedule risk factors include:

• Optimistic Scheduling - "tell them what they want to hear" without regard to real and practical limitations.
  
• Piling on People – All will go well if we throw people at the project, especially at crisis points.
  
• Refusing to anticipate learning curves when new people, tools or processes are introduced.

Officer's Club Project!

We're pleased to announce that we have been selected to perform a renovation and systems upgrade project by the US Navy. 

This fast-track initiative will involve interior renovations and HVAC-system updating in the officer’s club building at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. 

The scope-of-work will include new ceilings and walls, electrical and architectural upgrades, interior finish work, and the installation of a dormer on the building’s slate roof to accommodate the new HVAC unit. The new system will be more energy efficient, and will also have sufficient capacity to properly heat and cool the entire facility.

Read press release...

Safety First

Do you know about OSHA’s ‘Fatal Four Hazards’? In 2014 over 500 workers died from falling, being caught in or between hazards, being struck by hazards or electrocution.  

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Many companies are finding out how hard it is to attract and retain great employees – and the construction industry is no exception. They’re also realizing that incentives like signing or staying bonuses and/or better benefits are becoming necessary to be competitive. Here’s an article that discusses this more from High Profile.      https://www.high-profile.com/show-me-the-money/