WHAT DOES A GENERAL FOREMAN DO?

Published: Apr 08, 2025 - The General Foreman coordinates initial site setups, including the installation of ESD systems and procedures, while enforcing methods to optimize continuous use of resources. This position manages security risks by establishing appropriate security measures for all ESD property and supports site manager in enforcing stringent safety standards in compliance with statutory and ESD’s policies. This role oversees inventory control, facility maintenance, and truck fleet management, ensuring operational alignment with senior management and departmental integration.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for General Foreman

1. General Foreman Duties

  • Proactive Problem Solving: Utilize a proactive approach to anticipate, assess, and resolve any potential changes and issues.
  • Communication with Stakeholders: Share any production delays, changes, deficiencies, or other problems with the Project Management team, inspectors, etc.
  • Effective Communication: Communicate effectively with a wide range of individuals including Project Owners, General Contractors, Project Management team, Foremen, etc.
  • Safety Management: Ensure the proper safety equipment, materials and tools are onsite to perform required work.
  • Safety Enforcement: Interpret, implement, and enforce the company’s safety plan, rules, and regulations.
  • Contract Compliance: Adhere to project contract document changes and California Drywall change order notice-to-proceed policies.
  • Leadership by Example: Lead by example in a professional manner, be a role model for Foremen, and challenge and motivate all employees to achieve excellence.
  • Workforce Planning: Oversee workforce planning by providing adequate daily manpower to optimize the department through hiring, training, and scheduling Foremen.
  • Team Management: Manage, coach, motivate, guide, and develop a dynamic team of Foremen for multiple job-sites simultaneously to include providing performance feedback, career development, promotion, disciplining, etc.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Adhere to all California Drywall, Federal, State, and Local regulations, policies, and procedures as well as contract codes.
  • Professionalism and Ethics: Conduct all business in a professional, positive, and ethical manner with all trades, clients, contractors, vendors, and co-workers to maximize the effectiveness, efficiency, and profit of the company.

2. General Foreman Details

  • Site Coordination: Co-ordinate and control initial site set-up, actively installing ESD systems and procedures.
  • Resource Management: Apply and enforce methods and controls to ensure the most effective and continuous use of ESD’s resources.
  • Security Risk Management: Appraise the security risk to all ESD property under control and install security levels commensurate with the relative values.
  • Safety Support: Actively support the Site Manager to maintain and enforce safety standards by statute and in accordance with ESD’s safety policies.
  • Method Statement Compliance: Work to method statements and risk assessments.
  • HS&E Compliance: Ensure compliance with all HS&E policies and procedures.
  • Inventory Control: Supervise all inventory control activities.
  • Receiving Improvement: Identify opportunities for improving shipping & receiving efficiencies, reducing costs, reducing lead-times, and improving inventory turns.
  • Fleet Management: Manage the truck fleet with regards to vehicle maintenance, fueling, purchase/leasing.
  • Facility Maintenance Oversight: Oversee all facility maintenance programs – landscaping/janitorial/building maintenance.
  • Management Alignment: Meet regularly with senior management to ensure alignment between all departments.

3. General Foreman Responsibilities

  • Strategic Support: Assist the manager in organizing, planning, and implementing strategy.
  • Construction Task Management: Plan, implement, and manage construction tasks in accordance with priorities and goals.
  • Site Coordination: Coordinating site operations.
  • Schedule Management: Ensuring schedules and objectives are met by employees.
  • Client Liaison: Liaising with clients, receiving complaints, and resolving problems.
  • Worker-Supervisor Liaison: Liaison between construction workers and supervisors.
  • Problem Resolution: Solve any emerging problems and issues including disputes between workers.
  • Issue Management: Resolve any emerging problems and issues.
  • Employee Productivity Monitoring: Monitor employee productivity and provide constructive feedback and coaching.
  • Information Dissemination: Pass on information from upper management to employees.
  • Performance Evaluation: Evaluate performance and provide reports to upper management.

4. General Foreman Job Summary

  • Project Meeting Participation: Attend and participate in project's Internal Pre-construction Meeting as requested by the company.
  • Material Management: Arrange for materials necessary for work to be available in a timely manner to prevent production delays.
  • Work Verification: Verify that work is performed according to standard building practices, current construction documents, such as blueprints and specifications.
  • Schedule Support: Provide information to the Superintendent necessary in preparing short-term schedules.
  • Production Goal Setting: Provide clear production goals for the crews based on availability of materials and project schedules.
  • Punch List Coordination: Coordinate with Superintendent in preparing accurate and timely punch lists for the project.
  • Time Card Management: Prepare and submit timely and accurate time cards for each member of the carpentry crew.
  • Production Reporting: Prepare and submit timely and accurate production reports as requested by the Superintendent.
  • Safety Compliance: Ensure that current governmental and company safety standards are met and that work is completed in a safe manner.
  • On-Site Work: Working on-site in all weathers, at the client's business or in a site office.

5. General Foreman Accountabilities

  • Safety Training: Provide safety training to crewmembers to comply with company and governmental safety standards.
  • Safety Audit Participation: Participate as a member of the committee responsible for the safety site audit.
  • Safety Meeting Presentation: Prepare and present topics at the weekly safety meetings as requested by the Superintendent.
  • Safety Improvement: Solicit ideas from the crews to improve safety, quality, and production.
  • Accident Reporting: Report job-site accidents and injuries to the Superintendent in a timely manner.
  • Medical Coordination: Help coordinate medical treatment for injuries or repairs to facilities as requested by the Superintendent.
  • Workforce Training: Provide training to maintain quality and improve the overall workforce.
  • Hiring Participation: Participate in hiring interviews and decisions regarding members of the crew.
  • Employee Discipline: Discipline employees, up to and including recommendations for termination.
  • EEO Compliance: Adhere to/comply with the company's EEO policies and affirmative action obligations.
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