Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog

Period Covered 23 Mar – 4 Apr 12

Summary:  Training

A brilliantly frustrating 2 weeks which has been characterised by a whole host of training courses.  On one hand this has been great as the courses have been really useful and have possibly inspired my second TMR topic but at the same time frustrating as they have come at a time when I was just establishing myself on site and I have just sat in a classroom for 9 Months (fear not PEW lecturers I did not give the Aus lecturers an easy time either).

During this period I have completed the following:

• Supervision of GMF ground work contractors – bulk and detailed excavation, pile cropping
• Set out and supervision of service pits in service tunnel
• Qaulity Assurance pentrometer testing
• Risk Assessment and Hazard Inspection Audit
• Programme co-ordination meetings
• Operational Safety Quality and Environmental Risk Management Course
• Louts Notes and Project Pack IT Training
• Working Safely at Heights course
• Reports and returns – Site Diary etc

As a result of all my training courses I do not have much to write about this week.  As a result please see a shamelessly large number of photos. 

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Work on site.  I have been impressed at the pace of work on site.  The amount that has been achieved has been incredible.   120 x 20T trucks a day of spoil has been removed on site and the ground excavation is really progressing.  This is beginning to open up the site and for a short time will alleviate the space shortage.  The service tunnel to the West of the site is still the priority as this is the ONLY milestone in the programme less practical completion!!

Issues.  A couple of issues to think about:

1. How are tenders one?  I have not yet had experience of the complete tendering process but I am beginning to understand how business is done;  though a lot has been made about employing quality rather than the lowest bid, this has not been borne out by the earth works contractor, who I know was the cheapest tender by a considerable margin and in my opinion have bid to low for the job and are currently under a lot of pressure to minimise overheads.  This creates a lot of day to day friction and from a managing contractor view means we can not capitalise on opportunities as GMF to do not have the resources to be flexible.  On the other hand the concrete contractor, Crown, are falling over themselves to be proactive and helpful (and in my eyes professional) as they want to win the contract for the superstructure construction and as a result are desperate to impress.  The earthworks contractor has no such incentive.
2. Stopping in the Rain?  Unbelievably we have had a few showers in Perth over the last week.  I have been bemused by the immediate reaction to stop work as soon as it rain.  It is a shame this safety culture does not extend to every practice on site!               

My Experience.   I am still having a really positive time on site but I have been frustrated by the number of times I have to tell someone to do something.  This apparently is a normal frustration for attached officers according to my Works Package Manager who has worked with a few sappers before….why can’t civies do what they are told!!

Finally I undermined all my good first impressions by getting my UTE bogged down in a particularly soft patch of sand on site….

Further Work

• Continue on site as supervisor, deputise for site manager in his absence
• Hold Safety workshop with Safety Advisor to encourage UK best practice and culture (try to attend Strategic Safety Course which is focussed at culture change – possible TMR 2 Topic)
• Begin research on BIM for TMR 1
• I am currently all out of Thesis topics.  I have been canvassing on site but the general impression is that building a concrete box on sand is not really that cutting edge,  so I would be grateful for any help from anyone in the UK to focus my thesis thoughts!!
• Conitnue to train for Corporate 14km race in May…Charity appeal to follow