APPEARANCE AND SOUND

1)     Appearance and dress shall be neat and professional

2)     Language and action shall be that of professional craftspeople

3)     Shirts shall be worn at all time unless working on a rooftop

4)     Radios and other sound equipment shall not be operated loud

SMOKING

1)     Smoking shall be permitted only outside of structures

2)     Smoking shall be permitted only with the use of a butt can provided by the residential contractor

3)     Smoking butts shall not be left on the ground

4)     Spitting (hence, chewing) shall not be permitted

ALCOHOL AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES

1)     Storage of alcohol on the jobsite shall be prohibited

2)     Use of alcohol on the jobsite shall be prohibited

3)     Storage of a controlled substance on the jobsite shall be prohibited

4)     Use of a controlled substance on the jobsite shall be prohibited

TRASH

1)     The work area shall be left broom clean at the end of each workday

2)     Food trash including but not limited to drink containers

a)      shall not be left on-site at the end of each workday

b)     shall not be put into jobsite dumpster or other jobsite work material containers or storage areas

PROTECTION

1)     Dust protection materials shall be applied at all times

2)     Mechanics shall dust-protect unprotected areas they are working in before their work begins

3)     Floor and countertop protection shall be applied and maintained at all times

4)     Dust from the work area shall be isolated from existing indoor areas at all times

5)     Work debris shall be removed and contained at the earliest possible moment

CHILDREN AND PETS

1)     Work crew’s children shall not be permitted on-site unless arrangements with the client have been made

2)     Work crew’s pets shall not be permitted on-site unless arrangements with the client have been made

3)     Client’s children shall not be permitted on-site unless closely supervised by parents and with residential contractor’s permission

4)     Client’s pets shall not be permitted on-site unless closely supervised by owner’s and with residential contractor’s permission

USE AND ABUSE

1)     Work crew shall use only designated bathroom(s)

2)     Work crew shall use only designated telephone(s)

3)     Work crew shall use only designated storage areas

4)     Work crew shall not use client’s tools

5)     Work crew shall not use client’s equipment

6)     Work crew shall not use client’s trash containers

7)     Residential contractor shall pay in full for work crew damage to client’s property

8)     Residential contractor shall be responsible for mechanics’ safe-securing the client's property before leaving the jobsite

9)     If a worker uses a client's bathroom (when designated) –

a)     the toilet seat shall be closed when leaving the room

b)     a sink, shall be wiped off when finished

c)      tracked mud and other debris shall be cleaned up

10)Personal visitors to work crew shall be prohibited without express permission of the residential contractor at whose exclusive risk that visit shall be made

JOB SAFETY/OSHA

1)     Residential contractor shall be responsible in compliance to applicable federal, state, and local safety rules and regulations

2)     Residential contractor shall be responsible for general health and safety on and around the jobsite, including among others

a)     securing holes and trenches from accidental occupation

b)     securing tools from accidental use

c)      securing work crew’s safe passage throughout the jobsite

WARRANTY

1)     Residential contractor shall provide owner(s) with an express warranty

a)     for 1-year against defects, including all labor and materials

b)     that the work was performed 

i)  in a good and workmanlike manner

ii)     in accordance with not less than applicable codes and industry standards and

c)      that all materials were installed according to not less than manufacturer’s requirements

2)     Residential contractor

a)     shall place all warranties and documentation in a binder and

b)     shall give that binder to the client upon substantial completion

STANDARDS THAT GO BOTH WAYS - see Journal of Light Construction , April 2005, “Service Through Structure” by Paul Eldrenkamp, pp33ff.)

               Comment:  Builders and owners need to get a very few, very basic principles straight between them, in order to wipe out most bases of poor workmanship and poor operating performance, personal uncertainty, and interpersonal ill will: do only right; finish; get paid for what’s done.

   If there was ever a way to poison the pond of a building project, it’d be not trusting the other guy. 

               Would that distrust pervades an owner-designer or owner-builder relationship, that relationship is doomed to fail, that relationship should not have been entered into from the get-go.

               Would that distrust pokes its nose into an owner-designer or owner-builder working relationship, do as you were taught at the railroad crossing – Stop, Look, and Listen – to the other guy’s beef.  Then be as openly disclosive and understanding as it takes between the two of you to get it back on or get out. 

. . . . . . .

Here’s a version of Conduct Standards Onsite graciously offered by clients, adapted to local circumstances and conditions of environment, jobsite, shorter and clearer expression etc.  It’s to be posted prominently at front of property from day one.