A construction project consists of many little jobs and moving parts done by up to hundreds of construction workers and foremen often across multiple jobsites. Making sure a project is done right requires impeccable coordination between construction teams and impeccable coordination requires efficient communication. A construction team's ability to communicate efficiently will determine how quickly a job can be completed, and how safely that job can be completed. One of the best ways to improve communication is by providing your team with the right tools to do so. Two-way radios are one of the best ways for construction teams to communicate onsite. These are some of the ways two-way radios will benefit your construction team.
Communication One Push Away
Construction sites are busy places requiring workers to communicate frequently and do so quickly. Your average construction worker does not have the time in the schedule to pull out a phone, dial the right number, and talk to the person you need to talk to. Even if someone did have time to take a phone call, the service on a construction site is usually bad. A two-way radio can provide construction teams with quick and essential push-to-talk communication. This means that orders and emergencies can be communicated with one or all members of a construction team without having to speak or call each member of your team physically. Every team member is also ensured to have clear communication because power two-way radio signals can easily penetrate through thick walls and travel long distances. Construction teams can even make communication nearly hands-free with the addition of earpieces making it possible to work while you talk. Unless you are a small construction team that works on small sites you are going to need at minimum four-watt radios with multiple channel capabilities for individuals and groups to communicate with each other.
A construction schedule is always tight and any time wasted can lead to delays in a project. Delays on a project lose money so you want to make sure your communication is efficient. Two-way radios allow your construction crew to instantly talk to each other which means less time talking and more time working.
A Tool For Jobsite Safety
Every industry professional knows that a construction site is a safety and liability minefield. Lots of contractors, working in large spaces, with heavy machinery means a potential OSHA violation is always right around the corner. It only takes one incompetent employee to cause a big safety issue. Effective communication makes accidents less frequent which is why two-way radios are an essential safety device. Two-way radios can help prevent accidents and alert the entire team when accidents happen. You can instantly talk to your team and tell them to avoid parts of a jobsite or communicate with the appropriate expert on your team who specializes in fixing unsafe equipment or removing unsafe equipment. Accidents are less likely to happen when you can push a button and instantly tell your construction team that an accident has happened and everyone who is not qualified to help needs to stay away. Effective communication means safer jobsites and safer jobsites mean less liability for your construction company.
A Tool That Can Handle A Jobsite
Two-way radios are the most durable and price-conscious communication option for construction teams. Two-way radio equipment costs less than a phone and usually does not require any monthly fee (there are exceptions with cellular push-to-talk hybrid models). You can buy one smartphone for nearly $1,000 or you could purchase six two-way radios for the same price. Two-way radios have stronger signal strength than a cell phone and many are made specifically to deal with interferences that are common in jobsites. Construction crews should purchase two-way radios with military specifications since these radios are built to get dropped, stepped on, run over, wet, and muddy. A good two-way radio will last you a long time and save your construction company money.
A Few Suggestions
Here are a few two-way radio suggestions that are often used by construction crews. Most two-way radios work well and have relatively similar specs so a lot of people’s choices will come down to price, brand recognition, and the type of radio that feels most comfortable to use.
Motorola CP100D Digital radio.HQ98
Motorola CP100D Digital
This is a four-watt Ultra High Frequency digital two-way radio from one of the most well-known radio brands in the world. This model will get some of the best range out of any handheld and has the best audio quality. Construction crews like this radio because its range and audio quality mean you won’t lose communication in a critical situation on the jobsite. These radios will cost you between $400 to $500 per radio.
Kenwood NX-P1300NUK radio.HQ98
Kenwood NX-P1300NUK
Kenwood is another well-known brand in the radio industry. The Kenwood NX-P1300NUK is a five-watt UHF digital radio. It has a bit more power than the Motorola and is more cost-effective costing around $339 on average. Both Kenwood and Motorola are great brands commonly used in the construction industry. You can’t go wrong with either.
Blackbox GO! UHF Digital radio.HQ98
Blackbox GO! UHF Digital
This four-watt UHF digital radio is from Klein Electronics. This radio will save you the most money and it is great quality for the price. This brand costs around $207 on average and is a good option if you want to save some money or check out a different brand from Motorola or Kenwood.
Two-way radios are an important tool for construction workers. Instant push-to-talk communication creates safe and more efficient construction sites.
