EIT and PE jobsite checklist 1

[wrl22]

Hello all,

I am having difficulty finding a comprehensive list of do's, don'ts, and tips for young EIT's and PE's performing fieldwork.

I thought of this after seeing a recent thread:

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=300963&page=2

In this thread some older and more experienced engineers mention some of the obvious don'ts, such as "do not be a pompous jack-ss."

As for myself, I am currently a young PE working for a small design firm in a very secluded sector of the business. It seems that we always have the same 3 or 4 firms bidding on our projects, and over time I have made good working relations with the contractors' project managers, foremans, as well as some of the local union workers. Due to this relationship I do not hesitate to help out in small ways if it does not interfere with my work (e.g. holding a piece of rebar as a worker ties it per my request, or helping toss a few insulating blankets on fresh concrete while waiting for the next truck, etc).

I would just like to know other engineers' takes on what engineers can and should do on the jobsite, along with how to deal with foremans and other people present on site.

 

[Ron]

Rule No. 1 - When inspecting or "observing" DO NOT HELP! This puts your firm in a direct liability situation. As much as you would like to be helpful on a jobsite, do not ever assist with the actual work. Not only do you take on responsibility and liability for your firm, but your firm's worker's compensation insurance does not cover such activities.

 

[hokie66]

I suppose Ron is right, especially in the US, but I have helped out a bit myself in the past.

 

[BAretired]

I don't think it is a good idea for the engineering inspector to be assisting the contractor by holding rebar or tossing insulating blankets on concrete. These are functions which the contractor is quite capable of doing on his own without help from outside.

The engineering inspector should be reviewing the work to determine whether or not it complies with design intent. During a concrete pour, there are many items to inspect. That should be the focus of the inspector. Performing small services for the contractor is not the mandate of the inspector and tends to distract his attention from what he is supposed to be doing.

BA

 

[SteelPE]

This is a little interesting.

So what if you are on site and you don't like the way something is placed. Do just tell them that what they have done is not in conformance with the contract documents or do you give them a hand and show them what needs to be done?

For example, I am thinking about some of the times when we have done joist repairs. Everyone always messes up the end diagonal. I can envision being on site and physically placing the angle in the correct location and orientation in order to eliminate any confusion. According to this post this should not be done and only explained to the contractor verbally?

 

[HeavyCivil]

I'll hook a strap from an excavator to a tamper or length of pipe if It's convenient and all laborers are down in a ditch, but I generally avoid performing 'the work' myself.

In times of crisis I'll break this rule - IE thunderstorm erupts on a pour-in-progress and forms need to be tarped quickly to avoid drenching fresh concrete (begging the question why the gc proceeded with a pour given such a forecast).

Most important rule, in my opinion, for a young engineer is to watch everything that is done, how it was done, how it could have been done better, what worked, what didn't and begin developing knowledge base that will make you a better designer, estimator and inspector. Aside from providing quality insurance to the owner, you can personally gain scores of knowledge on a jobsite.

It is always important here, as everywhere, to act in such a way that commands respect and present yourself in a way that reflects favorably on your firm.

 

[Ron]

SteelPE...all of us have done this at one time or another, it's just not a good idea to do it.

If you work for a consulting firm, your liability insurance has several components. First and foremost is your professional liability insurance. That covers you for errors and omissions in design and consulting. Then you have commercial general liability insurance. That covers you if your equipment gets damaged (computers, etc.), the premises get damaged, and in some cases, damage incurred on jobsites, though they usually try to limit that one. Then you have auto liability insurance, and finally worker's compensation insurance.

The premiums on each of those are conditioned upon your firm being a consulting firm, not a construction firm. There's a big difference in the premiums and coverage for the two.

As an example, for ironworkers and roofers, the worker's compensation premium can be as much as 60% of the payroll. If a consulting firm had to pay those rates, they would be out of business. The insurance carriers expect that consultants are not "workers"...they are consultants.

So to answer your direct question....YES. You observe and report...you don't fix.

 

[wrl22]

Thanks for the responses.

I had not thought about this from an insurance or liability stand point, as most young professionals would not. Most of what I have learned so far is from watching other engineers, as well as some common sense.

To relate the liability topic to the original question, what do you do about site safety when it is not your firms responsibility. Lets say a worker always sets his hardhat down, or never wears his safety harness. I have always been told (by senior engineers) that if I say anything to the foreman, I am assuming responsibility.

The same goes for telling a contractor to pick up lightweight floatable debris before a rainstorm; I can not tell the contractor to pick it up, but I can ask the contractor what he will do if the debris ends up in the nearby water body.

I am just curious how other people deal with issues such as this, and others.

 

[Ron]

wrl22...safety on a jobsite is the purview of the general contractor. As a consultant, you have no responsibility to control safety. In the presence of imminent danger, you have a duty to warn, just as anyone would; however, it is not your job to police the safety practices of the contractor and your senior engineers are correct.

 

[ToadJones]

Also watch your ass....you pick up a tool around a union member, you may be costing the contractor or plan you are in a lot of money.

 

[ToadJones]

...plant...