Recorded Construction Diary's

Has anyone ever considered using some type of voice recorder for their daily construction diary instead of writing in a composition book? Would this be of any use if there was ever a conflict later on? I don't see any difference in this method than a written or typed diary, but I think it would save a lot of time and effort because I try to put as much as I can in my diaries. I could see how a recording would not work (or be much more difficult) for information like figures, survey stationing, or diagrams. But much more detailed information for other stuff such as conversations, arguments, people on site, or whatever... How about doing it on the computer with each day getting its own seperate sound file (.wav format?) and then burning them on a CD.

Sounds like a good idea to me, but maybey I just get writers cramp too easy. Maybe I want to put to much in my diary.

Other questions, differnet topic:

I have never received any formal guidelines in what to include in my daily logs. Has anyone else received tips from their employers, because I just write whatever down, and I am always wandering if I missed something that may be pertinent later on but didn't think of writing it down at the time. I am talking about diaries for your company/client versus a personal diary. When working on a construction site, do people here keep a company diary AND a personal diary? Does your company have the right to your personal diary that logs events between you and your company.

Are diaries even worth anything? Though I try to keep a good one, I have never been in the situation where it was needed or useful.

Thanks for any discussion.

 

[DaveVikingPE]

My advice: hand-write it all down in a bound notebook. Voice-recordings will be tedious and difficult to manage, especially when you're searching for something. It's way, way faster to flip through a notebook than search a tape or CD.

Also, be brief and be careful.

Here's some guidance for what you should take down:

1. Date, time of visit/inspection/etc.
2. Weather
3. Work scheduled
4. Work in-progress
5. Work completed
6. Number of workers on-site.
7. Significant deliveries
8. Safety violations
9. Other issues.

 

DaveViking:

Thank you for the suggestions. I've been getting all of that, I guess I was thinking there was more to it --I suppose there is and it falls within your #9.

You said one thing that got my interest: "be careful". Are you meaning be carefull not to write something I shouldn't, to be neat, be carefull of to get only pertinent information, or be carefull physically on the job.


I agree with you now the recorded diary (who came up with that dumb idea?!).

 

[DaveVikingPE]

Be careful not to write down some things; i.e., don't make things harder for yourself. To elaborate with an example, preface anything you've seen with your own eyes with "visually observed" as in "...visually observed a box of A-325 bolts was delivered..." Or, "...visually observed slump test, concrete tested was measured by concrete inspector and had a 1" slump, this truck was rejected as slump was too low." Any time you, as an inspector - not the owner, not the construction manager, etc. write down something that's controversial or is a specification nuance-type issue ("our water-to-cement ratio today was .4, yesterday is was .41...&quot that could cost someone money, it will be questioned and you will be questioned. Unless you see something that's totally bizarre (e.g., #18 rebar placed where the plans show #4's, etc.) more than likely it is WITHIN the specifications. The key word is "within." There are limits, like the slump test, use them. If you're allowing a slump between, say, 4" and 6" and the concrete comes in at 6" on the nose, it's OK. If it's 6.5" it's no good. If one batch is at 6" and the next at 4" they're both OK, etc.

As far as the other "be carefuls," neatness, personal safety and pertinent info are all there, too.

 

[ishvaaag]

In what my experience has shown to me judges are never wanting to consider the care the director of the works has taken in writing down orders given for execution in the works...contrarily we have seen them being attent to orders given through a Notary tasked with such thing. If you have a sharp problem, use a Notary.

 

[sc]

All,

Just a thought, but would a voice recording that is later played back to a speech recognition software (and linked to word or similar) help out?

The possibility is that you can record your reasoning fairly quickly and enhance it later in a formal diary for legal reasons. You would also need to make any sketches etc on site to include.


sc

 

[ABW]

interesting topic!
From what I understand, written logs are extremely important, but only when the **** hits the fan.
Thats when the judge will need to know what was happening ,when, and who observed it. Sometimes, however,it's better NOT to note some discrepancy you have seen, particularly if it is in an area of the job you are not in charge of. Even though you would have difficulty getting someone to correct the discrepancy (because it is out of your jurisdiction) in a courtroom situation, they will be looking for anyone to blame, and having noted it in your logbook, you may be fingered as liable.

Just a thought
Andy