Steps to be kept in mind for developing a better skilled workforce as of construction chemicals industry is concerned.

To stay competitive, in today’s world one must upgrade themselves to the latest standards/solutions on a nearly real-time basis. Nowadays, construction chemicals play an increasingly important role in the chemical industry. The availability of skilled workforce is a concern even in the construction industry and especially in construction chemicals, where the products also demand a bit from the applicators. It’s a specialist industry and we hope the availability of the skilled workforce will be a reality with our initiatives. Take a look at the steps to be taken to develop good skilled workforce.

Awareness on ‘Correct usage of construction chemicals’
Sharing his opinion on the availability of skilled workforce as per construction chemicals industry is concerned, Sunny Surlaker, Head of Add-Mixture Division, MC-Bauchemie (India) Pvt Ltd, says “At the moment, the awareness about the correct usage and correct application of construction chemicals to enhance construction and its durability is in its infancy. This awareness about materials is at the moment limited to top tier constructors, and quality conscious engineers on selected projects.”

He adds, “Our target is to raise this awareness to practically cover the entire construction industry in India. Unrealistic expectations / incorrect usage of the products, slow skill development in the field of application of construction chemicals and developing trustworthy partnerships between owner, constructor and technology provider (Construction Chemicals Providers) is hampering the rapid development of the industry and also affecting durability of the structures. With various incentives and awareness creation drives by CCMA (Construction Chemicals Manufacturer’s Association) as well as our individual members, this trend is steadily reversing.”

Training – Workshops and seminars by CCMA
Further, talking about the key initiatives on skill development aspect Surlaker says, “We hope to address these shortcomings in skilled application (workforce) by internal trainings from the company, workshops and seminars by CCMA, handbooks and other similar initiatives. Even within our company, we structure the training to address different levels of professionals – the applicator’s labour, the technician, the supervisor as well as the supervising engineer in charge.”

Furthering the cause for technical development, a handbook is planned on the correct usage of construction chemicals in collaboration with Indian concrete institute. Attempts are already on way to introduce technical topics in the academic syllabi. He asserts, “Training programs are in advance stages of design. These roving seminars will be taken to rural areas as well as engineering colleges. Another initiative is to open up local chapters all over India. The more people we reach more will be the awareness and the requisite skill development.”

Low market awareness and improper manpower needs to be improved
Construction chemicals are important components of the chemical industry and are playing an increasingly important role. Their judicious usage improves the quality as also durability of structures. “The use of construction chemicals is still negligible in India because of low market awareness and improper manpower. With proper awareness about this sector the use of construction chemicals will increase. These compounds belong to a specialty segment of the chemical industry and can be used either in existing construction projects to speed up the work or in new construction projects to impart durability and strengthen the structures,” says Dipali Y. Patil, Project Co-ordinator, Rebuild Technologies Services Pvt Ltd.

Construction chemical products help in minimising the quantities of cement and water used in the construction. These compounds impart chemical as well as physical properties in applications such as cross-linking or phase change (from liquid to solid). Construction chemicals are essential for high quality concrete and for promoting the improvement of concrete performance. They also increase the life of construction work and impart additional protection from environmental hazards. Based on end user applications, these compounds can be broadly classified into five categories.

Patil feels the practice of employing unskilled workers in construction is still hampering the growth of the sector, as construction chemicals are sensitive products and their use requires basic technical expertise and training.

Choose right product for right construction need
Patil opines, “We need a proper manpower from construction chemical industry, who understands the chemical process of the products, its reaction when admixed with cementitious product, suitability of the product. It is very important to choose right product for right construction need. Implementation of the product as per project requirement is very much important. The elongation, tensile strength, bond test of the product shall be understood before design system.”

Patil also added, “We must understand the importance of the application of the product as per the designed dosages, if the product is not applied with proper dosages / method, failure chance are more. Looking of the all aspect, we need proper skilled workforce, who understand the in and out of the product as well as construction.”

Issues and challenges faced in the construction chemical
Patil observes, “The industry is not emphasizing on the marketing activities. As a result there is lack of technical persons in the marketing department of the organisations. The repercussion results in improper customer services.”

Patil feels that the construction chemical industry is less explored by the chemical industry technicians. Therefore it is difficult to get the skilled labour for the industry processes. The result of the application of construction chemicals depends mainly on the way or manner in which the chemical has been used. The application of the chemicals requires an excellent technical guidance to get the best results out of such costly products.

Patil informs, “Today in India the end users are not skilled in the application of these chemicals. So they require a technical guidance to develop the skills required for the application. As of the same, we always train our people on products; educate them about the importance, charactership, safety. At the same time product application methodologies, uses are also important, we give them training on the same also and make them familiar as well as give them confidence to use right product with right conditions.”

Lastly, Patil concludes, “We also educate our team about the mixing of the chemicals, proper application tools, machineries to get the desired result.”