Flexibility is a principle of war…..
So first day back in to work today after paternity leave to find my desk stripped out, someone else sat there and being told that I’ve been moved projects. A happy start at 0530!
I am now a project engineer on the MOF project doing a direct swap with one of the graduate engineers so that I can get some on-site experience. Not an issue and hopefully beneficial for my DOs.
I will now be running the concrete works which is abutments, capping beams and pile caps. Good stuff with lots of reinforcement detailing to get my head into. Transition period of 2-3 weeks as we hand over responsibilities and get up to speed. If only there was someone on here that was sharing their lessons on RC….
More to follow once I have a clue what’s going on as there appears to have been little planning conducted so far.
WRT the desk issue I have now turfed out the individual sat there, reclaimed it and am beavering away once again!
Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog 
Quality control is the biggest lesson I’ve learned since starting my stint. Our contractors didn’t do it properly – argued over the definition of a batch – and then didn’t stick to the specs. It’s now biting them firmly in the arse. Curing was not conducted properly and in the heat that caused all sorts of issues with shrinking and de-lamination. I didn’t realise that some providers withhold some water so it can be added on site – so be familiar with the paperwork if it goes that way. Some use ice if the weather is hot…..that’s my two-penneth.
Oh – and with respect to rebar inspections – sometimes it’s easier to build up the rebar in stages to match the pours, so you have to keep tabs on what bits have already gone in and which bits are about to go in for quality control purposes.
Cheers buddy,
McFry
Huge feelings of guilt for not getting here sooner… 1. Get hold of the drawings and understand whats going to go in. 2. Find out who’s delivering what – already contracted vs not yet tendered etc and get hold of copies of their contract documents; you’d not be too suprised to know how often the contract drawings are not the same as the current working set and neither oparty is briefing the other. 3. look at the rebar and make sure it can be supplied as designed and made up – ask Ros about nightmares arising from ofsite fabrication with incorrect bar sizes… 4. Check the concrete spec and work out how you’re going to get it all on site and into place. Programme and float time matter as does QA otherwiose you’re breaking out or asking a client to accept below spec neither of which is pretty.