Many of us might have preconceived ideas about what we think the construction and civil engineering industries are all about. But, in many cases, our perceptions are wrong.

As industries change to adapt to modern ways of thinking and operating, it’s easy to see how our views can quickly become dated. Here are some of the top myths associated with construction.

The construction industry is environmentally harmful

One of the top misconceptions people have is that construction is bad for the environment. While construction projects that rip up natural landscapes often make headline news, this doesn’t mean to say that all construction is environmentally unfriendly. In recent years, there has been a growth towards ‘green’ building, and construction and civil engineers are increasingly taking environmental aspects into consideration when carrying out their work.

It’s a career for men

The construction sector might have traditionally been regarded as a career route predominantly for males, but increasing numbers of females are being drawn to this area. In fact, it’s estimated that around 320,000 women are employed in all areas of construction, from civil engineering to quantity surveying and architecture, to name just a few – https://www.jtltraining.com/women-in-the-industry. Even better, this sector takes gender equality seriously, especially with regards to aspects such as remuneration.

It’s dangerous

The construction industry is governed by stringent health and safety regulations with regards to PPE, safe use of machinery and working conditions, etc, so it’s not true to say that construction is dangerous. Reputable companies will always ensure health and safety is adhered to, whatever tasks are carried out on-site.

Many work aspects involved with construction and civil engineering might also take place in an office, such as using a computer, so this makes it no more dangerous than any other office-based profession.

Construction is an unskilled area of work

There are many different work areas within the construction industry, and while some roles such as labouring can be learned on the job, it’s wrong to assume that skills aren’t needed to get ahead in this line of work. In fact, many jobs within this sector require training, whether as an apprenticeship, at college or even university. Even once training is complete, there is often ongoing training needed to keep skills up to date and to stay ahead of the latest guidelines and ways of working.

It’s full of cowboy builders

Like any industry, construction will have its fair share of cowboy traders, but the vast majority of businesses are reputable and don’t wish to make a bad name for themselves. Indeed, many businesses in the construction industry will be governed by trading bodies, such as the National Federation of Builders, so it’s always a good idea to make sure a construction company boasts reputable credentials before employing their services.

As experts who are equipped with the right knowledge to carry out your construction project, get in touch with Lydon Contracting.