Site Assessments: Some Final Thoughts on Completing Site Assessments (Part
4)
February 2002
In this final installment of his 4-part series,
Ron Prichard examines other important areas to focus on to ensure construction
site safety: housekeeping, graffiti, fire protection, and temporary services.
by Ron
G. Prichard, P.E. Ph.D.
Aon Worldwide Resources
In previous articles, we have covered several aspects of structuring and
performing site assessments. In this last installment, we address some of the
final functions to examine over the course of monitoring the work progress.
As was noted before, the two key patterns to seek confirmation of in the course
of construction are order and organization. This article will address some other
key functions to look for in the approach to the job.
These other areas that are important to site safety include housekeeping,
graffiti, fire protection, and temporary services. These are not the only details
to be concerned with, but they can be leading indicators of safety problems.
If the project scores well in these areas, it is likely to score well in other
areas as well. Thus, focusing on a few key areas expedites the assessment process.
Housekeeping
They say that cleanliness is next to godliness, and this is so on the construction
site too. Everyone on the job site can readily see whether the site is kept
clean and how housekeeping is handled. The failure to properly address housekeeping
(sometimes viewed by management as being a silly area to focus any effort on)
can lead to difficulties in other areas of the project.
The impression of site housekeeping provides a summary of the morale on the
project. It also provides a view of how often key management personnel get out
on site (and a good idea of where they are going when they do go out). This
is something that everyone on the site picks up on, even if it is unspoken.
Those areas that are neglected will quickly accumulate trash, and then Prichard's
Law of Trash Magnetism takes effect ("Trash, if left unattended to, will tend
to attract to it more trash."). Thus, the cleanliness of the site, in all areas
of the site, will indicate the degree of attention being paid to the project
details by the management team.
During the site assessment, start with the trash collection points. This
includes the dumpsters and trash receptacles. How many are there, where are
they in relation to the actual work taking place, how do the dumpsters appear,
and what does the area immediately surrounding them look like. Any pattern typically
repeats itself around the project. The first clues can be ascertained by looking
at trash barrels in the craft parking areas. Neglect in these areas—barrels
flowing with trash or trash everywhere with the barrels being nearly empty—will
replicate itself on the project.
If conditions around these key areas are troublesome, you can get confirmation
of a problematic pattern by taking a walk through the trailer-city or lay down
areas. Trouble will show itself here through trash under steps and trailers,
wind-blown accumulation against fences or between stored materials, and the
accumulation of old and/or unused material and storage articles (such as crating,
pallets, cardboard packing materials, bandings, etc.). It is important to ask
who is responsible for cleanup, for what areas, and at what intervals. If trash
is accumulating on-site, then likely there are no answers to the above questions.
No one is responsible for addressing cleanup or the follow-up necessary to ensure
that things are being taken care of properly. If this condition exists, it will
be a symptom growing problems repeated in other areas across the project.
Out in the actual work areas of the project, there are four locales (in addition
to the dumpsters and trashcans, mentioned above) to examine to get a sense for
how housekeeping is being handled on the site. This becomes the last piece of
data needed to complete the picture. Look at the actual areas where work is
taking place and the areas around gangboxes, break areas, and porta-johns. While
in work areas, note if craft personnel have to move around debris, packing materials,
and other trash to perform their work. If so, you are also likely to see the
remnants of meals and other non-construction trash beginning to accumulate.
You can be certain in these settings that no one cares about housekeeping
(and this spills over into other key project performance areas as well). It
is also likely to be an indicator that housekeeping duties were not properly
designated in contracts and so no one takes responsibility for it on the job,
or if they are properly defined, then no one in management cares enough to make
certain that it is being performed. This should be a warning that there are
other areas of contract disputes or breaks in scope coverage that are certain
to be generating friction on the site.
An examination of the gangboxes will help indicate how well the craft folks
are taking care of their own stuff (and a gauge of the effectiveness of first-line
supervision). If these areas are not looked into periodically and kept clean
and orderly, the quality of work will suffer. The third area to examine is the
break areas. Normally, workers will try to create a table and benches to achieve
some measure of comfort. If these areas are not clean (since, after all, it
is that small portion of the project to which the craft workers claim as their
own space), then there are certain to be other problems.
The last area to look into is the porta-johns. This includes all the ones
scattered across the project site, not just the ones near the office trailers,
since those in the later category are likely to be used occasionally by management.
It means stepping into ones randomly across the work areas to assess the cleanliness
and servicing of the units. Only mud, in vast quantities on a site, can lead
to a deterioration of morale quicker and more firmly than filthy porta-johns.
If they are allowed to be in a horrid condition, it sends the message that management
thinks more of animals than the craft workers. Failure to adequately address
porta-johns bodes ill for a project outcome.
Graffiti
A related area of examination—closely tied to housekeeping and its problems—is
site graffiti. Again, an examination of the porta-johns, usually the first place
where it will show up, is an indicator of the level of attention being paid
to detail. Much like Prichard's Law of Trash Magnetism, Prichard's Law of Site
Graffiti states that, "Graffiti is a sign of discontent, and if it is permitted,
it will accumulate and grow into acts of sabotage and other means of rebellion."
Graffiti does not begin to appear on site without warning, as it is normally
a sign that complaints or issues are being inadequately addressed, or are even
being completely ignored. Graffiti is an outward sign of anger, and should drive
you to more closely examine site issues. Avoiding such underlying issues is
not the answer. Craft workers may complain about other issues in an effort to
get some attention. The roots of these complaints are the real problems, but
may not be discernable by the actual complaint. You might have to dig deeper.
Ask, listen, observe. If the underlying issues are not identified and addressed,
or the graffiti is not attended to when it starts to appear, if will spread
beyond the porta-johns, and begin showing up in other areas of the project.
A project with graffiti on elements of the facility itself is one indication
of a project in deep trouble.
Fire Protection
The third area to examine out on the project site is fire protection. Again,
this is a necessary part of the project, but is often a detail that is overlooked
or ignored since it is so simple and obvious. There should be fire extinguishers
strategically placed throughout the work areas, including those areas where
they are particularly needed, such as locales where hot work of any sort is
taking place. There should also be fire extinguishers in areas where people
congregate, such as break areas and around gangboxes. The seals need to be checked
frequently to be sure that the extinguishers are functional, and the size should
be appropriate for the sort of hazard that is likely to be encountered.
Routinely, in those situations where craft workers are annoyed or angry over
site issues, this displeasure will manifest itself in abuse (or even theft)
of fire extinguishers. Also, an examination of fire watches in hot work zones
is another way to gauge the thoroughness of first line supervisors. Are the
individuals aware of what their function is and the purpose of fire watch? Are
they equipped with the proper gear, and are they paying attention to their task?
Fire protection also includes examination of the routes and means of egress.
Can the craft workers find their way out of the building in the event of a fire
outbreak? Will people be able to find their way out of the building? What if
the lights go out? Can workers identify exits?
Temporary Services
The fourth key indicator area to monitor on the site is the temporary services.
To some extent, this has been covered with the previous discussion about the
porta-johns and break areas. However, this also addresses lighting, power, and
water. Temporary lighting is a work category, particularly in the interior finishing
stages of the project, where a concerted effort must be set forth to maintain
it throughout the workday. If allowed to go unattended, it will quickly deteriorate
and adversely impact the ability of the craft to perform their work.
The same contractor is usually asked to provide adequate temporary power
to the site. This means GFCI outlets, and enough of them, adequately provided
throughout the site. Related to temporary power will be the amount and condition
of extension cords. Random checks of cords—numbers, quality, lengths, and the
plugs—will indicate how well the temporary power is being addressed.
Viewing Work in Progress and the Hazard Hunt
There are two remaining focus areas in looking at the job that pertain to
assessing the project. The first is actually watching the work in progress,
to observe how work is happening. The second element is to conduct a hazard
hunt over the course of the walk-through. Both of these elements are fully focused
on the actual process of construction: How is the physical construction work
being performed? What are the conditions of the work areas surrounding it?
When watching the work, there are five key areas on which to focus your observations:
- Work in progress
- How much work is actually being done
- The number of people actually working
- The active, visible presence of supervision
- The reaction to your presence
Work in Progress. This is a comparative analysis
of what is said to be underway (and what should be underway if on schedule)
versus what is actually being done, in comparison to the state of the project
on your previous visit. This is to gauge a sense of job flow—how the work progressing.
You seeking to identify if there is congruence between what is really happening
and what is said to be happening, with what ought to be going on for the particular
stage of the project and its state in the overall schedule. Do the subcontractors
and craft understand where the job is, what the plan is, and how they are doing
compared with the plan?
Actual Work Being Done. The level of activity
and what portions have seen progress since the last visit are indicators of
how much work is actually being done. You want to get a sense of how the work
control and coordination is progressing. Do the craft understand the site rules
and procedures? Are they in compliance with the requirements? Is there a sense
of order and organization? Does the activity make sense, and is that sense transmitted
to the craft workforce? What is the condition of the work in place?
You also assess the work practices in watching the work being performed.
You assess the level of individual action—are people engaged, or is there an
excessive amount of standing around and waiting? What is the level of congestion
on the site and within the work areas? Which trade folks are on-site, and what
is their attitude toward the work and the project management? What is the appearance
of the craft personnel, their tools, and the material? Is there an indication
that personal protective gear is available and being used properly? Are you
able to note work progress over the course of the walk-through? What are the
number of shifts and the duration of them? When do shifts start and end, and
how are the transitions managed? Is information from one shift transmitted to
management for work planning on the next shift?
Number of People Working. The third area is
to gauge the number of people working on site. Before going out into the construction
areas, get a sense for the number of craft reported to be on site. While walking
through the site, mentally tally the numbers to see how many are out actually
working. Get a sense for the numbers actually performing physical construction
work, versus the number "in transit" from one location to another, the number
standing around either waiting for direction or just watching the others work,
and the number in supervision monitoring. On jobs where large numbers of craft
workers are reported to be on-site, but not many people are actually seen present
and performing actual work, there is trouble.
Presence of Supervision. The fourth area of
inquiry is the active visible presence of management and supervision. Can you
detect the managers across the site? Can you determine who they are, and how?
If you are seeking out someone specifically, how do you find them and where,
and how responsive are they? Do you get a sense that their presence out on the
job is frequent or they establish themselves primarily in their offices? How
well do the supervisors know the work and the details of what is happening out
on the site? Compare the conditions of offices to the site conditions, e.g.
are the floors of the offices clean while the job is covered in mud?
Reaction to Your Presence. The last area is
related to the management presence on the job. This is gauging how people on
the job react to your presence on the job? Does it appear that it is unusual
for visitors to be seen on the job (usually detectable by work stopping over
the course of your walk)? Are your escorts known and recognized as you move
around the site?
Conclusion
This series of articles on construction safety site assessments defined the
models used in conducting periodic site safety audits to assess the performance
of the project management teams and how to actually go about conducting site
assessments. These guidelines are designed for those with responsibility for
administering multi-employer programs, either construction managers or general
contractors.
The full four-part series on site assessments includes:
An Informal Process of Questioning (Part
1)
Initial Assessments (Part 2)
Conducting a Site Assessment (Part 3)
Some Final Thoughts on Completing Site Assessments
(Part 4)
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