Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog

Poplar Island: Last time I blogged I had a conundrum on suitable temporary coffer dam configurations for the installation of the proposed dual purpose inlet / spillway structure. The proposed solution seems to make better use of equipment and resources and avoids re-mobilization of manpower and equipment. There are other potential benefits in so far as one of the temporary structures may be able to provide another dual purpose by acting as a ‘check dam’ for later stages of the project but I need to research this a little more first.

I have begun the stakeholder engagement to see if the proposed structure could have any wider benefits to the other users (such as the Ports Authority, University of Maryland or the Environmental Protection Agency) as I have seen testing stations precariously jerry-rigged to similar structures around the island. I basically want to see if we can incorporate something into the design that will make life easier for others. The initial response has been one of outright flabbergast. Apparently people don’t normally think outside of their bubble and the invitation to have input has so far been well received…..though I may live to regret it and start sticking to my own bubble as a result!

My current puzzle is to figure a way to make stop-log structures stop leaking without introducing bulk heads or spending any money…..this will be a fun one. [Richard – I’m sure you’ve puzzled over this in a previous life, perhaps during a long pause in a bell-ringing session – any thoughts or guidance will be gratefully received (bell ringing or otherwise)].

Stop-log structures used at Poplar

Building 45 Seismic analysis: Having been totally flummoxed by random circular references in the codes I have finally made some headway. The problem is that it’s not just the building codes that count, it is also subject to additional requirements because it is a federal building….which also references more design guides but in a way that only serves to complicate the issue. I have since discovered that because of this they have had to produce a ‘codemaster’ booklet just to help us poor mortals actually put pen to paper instead spending a lifetime reading in circles. I have undertaken a pretty extensive desk study and created the framework for the report to hang off of as well as generating a field check list for the survey itself to make sure we don’t miss anything. Thankfully the seismic analysis is based more on empirical data and observations of particular building types and their observed responses to seismic activity from previous events as opposed to having to come up with a super cone-head analysis and FEM….phew. Unfortunately the owners appear to want the moon on a stick included within their scope of works and now the whole renovation is in jeopardy unless they can trim it down somewhat.

Levee Screenings:…are long and tedious. Thankfully they spread the love on these so I won’t be stuck in damnation for too long. They are actually a really good way of learning from the experts, some of the knowledge they’ve spent a lifetime building up so I won’t complain.

Occupational Health and Safety Audit: Me and my big mouth. Having done my last TMR on H&S and asking lots of H&S questions of everyone, when the shit sandwich of dealing with the baseline info for the ARMY wide review came in – guess where it fell. I did a bit of questioning with the poor soul at the next level up who was eating an even bigger sandwich, it turned out the deadlines for this were tighter than PET student with a 75% thesis submission due. Ultimately I devised a questionnaire, gathered a sample set of folks, got the data and turned it around in quick time with a whole bunch of wider recommendations to push up the chain. It’s all gone quiet again for now but the next phase will be to revise the office H&S procedures, update the risk assessments and make sure everyone is processed….perhaps I will fake a heart attack that day.

Officer Professional Development: The most recent OPD was a trip to Washington DC with the other ‘green skins’ to have a look at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the USACE HQ to see how they deal with emergencies, coordination of resources and command and control. Having comfortably making it through security to the briefing room FEMA decided that they still haven’t forgiven the Brits for that little misunderstanding in 1812 and ejected Ben and myself. Not to worry – we caught up with everyone for the USACE HQ brief where we got all the info anyway (go figure). Unfortunately I made a comparison of us being the foreign soldiers creating admin issues to the floppies at Sandhurst. I think Ben is now paranoid that the USACE lot think we’re the floppies….sorry Ben.

The OPD concluded with ‘Chem-Ops’ – the codename that was applied for us going to one of the officer’s houses and learning how to brew beer….all educational. Ben and I added to the educational theme by delivering a presentation on the history of the Corps, key achievements, current day and future……while they drank beer. I found that this makes an audience much more forgiving and would like to propose that this is how we should undertake the senior officer de-briefs in phase 4.

Other News:

I’m quietly confident that my long term light-rail stalker has moved to Canada – I feel safer already, but I appear to have picked up a stalker from the IT department now and am convinced he’s even more dangerous. I’m considering tracking down George in Canada to tell him all is forgiven….or better still – hook him up with IT stalker.

Ulli has progressed well with her horse riding and took part in her first fox hunt recently…..I didn’t ask what was for dinner that night.

…And the Baltimore Ravens have taken the Superbowl. What a game! They were…….running…..and hitting each other……and sometimes kicking the thing. I really have no idea what was going on, but if they had lost I am led to believe that Baltimore would be in flames about now. The parade is this Wednesday – so I will acquire a giant purple foam hand and show my support….and hope that nobody asks me anything about the game.