In the construction industry, every tradesman that takes part in a project wants to be a part of that success and to this end, the team at RAPS Construction Ltd have had that opportunity over the past decade.
This June, the Johnstownbridge based company celebrates its tenth anniversary since Jason O’Keeffe and Francis McTeigue first established the business.
Since 2009 our Company has been providing a specialized and dedicated service to the commercial, industrial and public sectors. Our experienced management team is dedicated to consistently providing an excellent service to all our Clients so they can be confident knowing their projects will be completed on time and within budget and to the highest standard achievable.
“We provide a wide range of services related to the construction of reinforced concrete structures. We specialise in formwork, rebar and concrete and operate in many sectors including large Marine and civil projects, water treatment plants, underground car parks, energy and smaller scale works,” said Jason. RAPS Construction Limited has the experience and resources necessary to undertake formwork projects of any size or nature.
“We carry out work for some of the biggest building and civil firms in the country, we have been involved in numerous prestigious projects around the country including the special feature lift shafts in National Art Gallery and Pearse Lyons Distillery”.
Recently the Kerry Central Water Regional Supply Scheme was awarded Engineering project of the Year.
“We were involved in the construction of an Underbridge on the Sallins bypass which was made well-known by a time-lapse view shared on social media with all the work being done over the course of a weekend. A great deal of planning went into this project and the results were great to see.
“We have carried out numerous projects within Dublin Port for Main Contractors constructing New Ro Ro Ramps, the new Quay Wall berth 32-34/Ro-Ro Jetties and within the Oil terminals.”
The company directors rely on their dedicated staff to ensure that the work is carried out to the highest standards and Jason revealed that when it comes to experience, his team has it in abundance.
“There would be a large volume of core employees who have remained loyal to the company for years now. They are very experienced at what they do and we have full confidence in their ability to meet the client’s expectations. We never underestimate the value of our employees as our success is attributed to their dedication and experience.”
Seventy people are employed by Raps Construction Ltd and Jason admitted that finding the right type of employee is not the easiest of tasks sometimes.
Of course, being involved in this high risk task in our line of work means that health and safety is paramount and Jason stressed that this is an area they focus on a great deal.
“We employ our own health and safety officer and ensure that on every project we undertake, health and safety is of the utmost priority and takes precedence over everything. The team consistently strive to set and achieve the highest health and safety targets in the industry ensuring that that the safety of both our employees and non- employees are always a priority.
“We ensure that all of our employees receive regular comprehensive induction and training in all aspects of health and safety and are compliant with all current health and safety regulations. All machinery is tested and checked regularly.
Safe work method statements are prioritized before commencement of any new project and all employees are made aware of the safe method we have adopted for each project before it’s commencement. We, with the main contractor constantly monitor health and safety throughout the duration of each project and identify and correct any potential risks as they arise ensuring a safe working environment for all parties involved. We view a zero- accident count as a key performance indicator for each project, and we are always looking for ways to improve safety performances within the company
Jason has noticed a huge upturn in work over the last 18 months or so, but he believes that a more cautious approach has to be taken on this occasion.
“I don’t think you will see what happened during the Celtic Tiger, happen now. There will be a more cautious approach, but I do feel that we are set for a busy few years. We started out during the last recession and it was a massive learning curve for us. Our aim is to provide the highest standard of Service to all our clients and to keep the customers happy and there is a saying in this industry that ‘you are only as good as your last pour’.”
Raps Construction Ltd
The Orchard
Johnstownbridge,
Co. Kildare
el: 046-9549698
obile: 087-0626452
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, May, Vol 5 No 4
