LONDON HEALTH & SAFETY GROUPGORDON HICKS MEMORIAL DAY

12TH MAY 2014

A Construction Site Manager’s LotPresented by:

Ian WaltersSurvey2Site Limited

GORDON HICKS MEMORIAL DAY

GORDON HICKS MEMORIAL DAY

Who Am I?

Ian Walters, MCIOB, MICWCI, MInstRE, RMaPS, Tech-IOSH

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS/ MEMBERSHIPS:

M.C.I .O.B. (Member of The Chartered Institute of Building). M.I .C.W.C.I . (Member of The Institute of Clerk of Works and Construction Inspectorate of GB Inc). MInstRE (Member of The Institution of Royal Engineers).

RMaPS (Registered Member CDM Co-ordination of the Association). Tech-IOSH (Technician Member of The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health).

GORDON HICKS MEMORIAL DAY

What is a Site Manager?The term “Site Manager” is a general phrase used to describe someone who is responsible for a building site and what happens upon it.

The Site Manager is deemed to be the font of all knowledge and has to be “all things to all men and women”.

Other titles may include:

• Project Manager • Project Director• Works Superintendent• Resident Engineer, etc

Remember that all “Site Managers” hold within their thoughts at all times that they and they alone are responsible for everything that happens on site and as such if the wheel comes off and a serious incident occurs it is they who will be in the dock, whether this is true or not it is a widely held belief………..

GORDON HICKS MEMORIAL DAY

A Selection of Site Managers’ Duties/Functions

• Opening the site/locking the site, the security of the site.• Ordering materials.

• Carrying out Site Inductions for staff, operatives and visitors.• Assessing sub-contractors risk assessments, method statements,

COSHH data, etc.

• Arranging and checking deliveries in.• Procurement of contractors and materials.

• Dealing with his Managers and Director’s needs, wants and demands.

• Managing the Director’s and shareholders expectations of profit and performance.

• Setting out the site works.• Scaffold safety weekly inspections.• Checking the formwork and re-bar prior to a concrete pour.

GORDON HICKS MEMORIAL DAY

Cont’d

• Taking slump tests and cube tests.• Storing materials on site.

• Producing the maximum and expected financial return for the company board and shareholders.

• Planning and programming the works.• Writing risk assessments and method statements and briefing the operatives accordingly.

• Issuing and controlling “Permits To Work” for activities such as ‘Hot Works’ and ‘Confined Spaces’, etc.

• Updating the program.

• Ordering the welfare facilities and consumables.• Taking off materials for buying department ie bricks, blocks, masonry support ties, etc.

GORDON HICKS MEMORIAL DAY

Cont’d

• Scoring the companies KPI’s.• Ensuring there are tea, coffee and biscuits for the meetings.• Organising local school site visits and other expected social, corporate and moral obligations.

• Completing the company’s in-house reports.• Organising/Facilitating the weekly, monthly progress meetings with the whole Team

and the Client.• Assessing BREEAM requirements and other compliance codes.

• Completing the project progress reports for the client and the team.

• Co-ordinating interfaces of sub-contractors and following trades.

• Interpreting the architects, engineers and specialist designers drawings, specifications and details and co-ordinating them all to avoid clashes.

GORDON HICKS MEMORIAL DAY

Cont’d• Managing disputes between subbies, trades and operatives.

• Acting as agony aunt to staff and operatives.• Liaising with the architect, engineer, M&E consultant, etc, etc.• Managing the Clients expectations and realities on site.

• Escorting the client, visitors, etc around site.

• Staff regular appraisals and feedback interviews.• Keep up with CPD and changes within technology.• Applying for, negotiating with and managing the supply and install of the utilities.

• Liaising with the local authority/approved inspector visits and outstanding information.

• Dealing with quality of workmanship and materials on site.

• Ensuring planning matters are dealt with, reserved matters actioned.

• Ensuring that the welfare facilities are adequate, clean, etc.

GORDON HICKS MEMORIAL DAY

Cont’d

GORDON HICKS MEMORIAL DAY

What Makes a Site Manager?• Traditionally most Site Managers came from a trade background.

• Past 10 to 20 years there has been an increase in academic and professionally trained Site Managers, due to ever more complex buildings, technology and legislation.

• Modern competent Site Managers are expected to be Health, Safety and Environmental savvy, with most academic and professional syllabuses accommodating these needs.

• In addition to general Health & Safety knowledge, many Site Managers go further and hold such qualifications and accreditations as:

o SMSTSo IOSH Managing Safetyo NEBOSH Certificateo Scaffolding Inspectorso Crane Slinger and Banksman Trainingo Asbestos Awarenesso First Aider Trainingo Etc. etc.

GORDON HICKS MEMORIAL DAY

CLIENTS AND CONTRACTORSThe Client has only the budget for a Ford, but the Principal Contractor has delivered him a BMW, but the Client is still disappointed because he wanted a Rolls-Royce!!!• One-off and some small clients see Health Safety and Environmental legislation and

compliance as spending their money needlessly and placing obstacles in the way of what the Client wants?

• Larger and repeat Clients see things differently; they are in it for the long haul and recognise the harm and damage done to their brand, image and organisation if they are seen to be associated with poor health and safety.

• As a result I feel we have a two-tier Client base which then leads to two types of Contractors, those who embrace working safely and those who operate beneath the radar, often cutting corners not only with quality but also with health and safety.

• The former type of Client is more likely to want to build relationships and partnerships with professional Site Managers and competent contractors.

• The latter type of Client and the contractors they engage I would suggest represents the biggest share of accidents, incidents, fatalities and criminal investigations and is borne out by the HSE new approach to policing and monitoring construction.

GORDON HICKS MEMORIAL DAY

CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES• Most construction companies take their responsibilities for Health & Safety

very seriously and now have a fully staffed Health, Safety and Environment Department or ready access to good sound advice from a Health and Safety professional. Also, they will hold membership of various industry bodies and organisations such as:

o CHASo ConstructionLineo Achilles’o Etc, etc • Often Site Managers will be expected to assist with pre-qualification

questionnaires which include extensive Health, Safety and Environment considerations, and if successful be part of the tendering team for what could be their next project.

• Since the 1960s larger construction companies have been encouraged to pay a levy to the CITB (Construction Industry Training Board), the rebate given to contractors often pays for staff training such as NEBOSH, IOSH and SMSTS.

GORDON HICKS MEMORIAL DAY

CONCLUSION“Finally remember this that the “Site Manager” will always be blamed for a poor result on a project whatever it may be, if the project is a success the QS, estimator, Directors, sub-contractors and Tea-boy will shower in the glory of the projects success and the poor old Site Manager will be destined to the annals of history as only having done his job!!!!!”