Definition of Site Operations - Term Paper Example

SITE OPERATIONS Name Institution Instructor Course Date Table of Contents 1.0Site Investigation 2 1.1 Bedrock and Geomorphology 3 1.2 Terrain and Maps 3 1.3Groundwater and Surface drainage 4 1.4 Construction materials 4 1.5 Transport and site accessibility 4 2.1 Construction Phase Health and Safety Plan 6 3.1 Access routes 8 3.2 Site access 8 3.3 Mud on roads 9 3.4 Dust avoidance 9 3.5 Vehicle emission 9 3.6 Waste removal 9 3.7 Lorries marking 10 3.8 Travel plan 10 3.9 Monitoring 10 4.0.1 Enabling Works/Site preparation 11 4.0.2 Demolition of Brown Lenox Chain Works 11 4.0.3 Substructure construction/Pilling 11 4.0.4 Superstructure Construction 11 4.0.5: Fit out 12 4.1 Site Specific Risk Assessments associated enabling of works operations 12 5.0 Spanner in the Works 13 Reference List 15 1.0 Site Investigation Before the commencement of a project, a contractor is expected to fully understand the site investigation/geological survey information of the proposed site. This information is very crucial since it will give direction on how site operations activities will be carried out. The contractor will also be enlightened on the safety measures to implement as well as related health and environmental issues. The contractor will be in a position to avoid exceeding the budgets and completion dates. As a national contractor who is intending to tender for the development of Sainsbury’s Pontypridd, there is a necessity to obtain the geological survey information of the site where the stores would be constructed. According to the Sainsbury stores case scenario, the following geological survey information should be provided to the contractors who are interested in its development[Hol10]: 1.1 Bedrock and Geomorphology This information will show how the ground site was formed. That is, its homogeneity, properties and types of materials it is made of. It will also provide information concerning the bedrock types within the site, presence of rock outcrops, and the thickness of the soil. The information is very crucial to the interested contractors since it will enable them decide whether this bedrock can support the infrastructures proposed. They will also be able to decide on suitable buildings materials to be used in such a site. 1.2 Terrain and Maps Terrain is the description of the site’s surface features. It includes surface features such as vegetation, orientation and slope of the surface, surface drainage. Photographs of the site and topographic maps can assist a lot in obtaining the terrain information of a given site. Maps are very crucial because they identify constructed features and natural features around the proposed site. This information assists the contractors in determining the foundation designs of the proposed infrastructures. 1.3 Groundwater and Surface drainage Due to the construction problems caused by ground water and surface water, it is necessarily to provide information concerning the features associated with surface water and ground water. Some of the problems caused by surface water and ground water include: basements flood, and eroding final grading around the building. Availability of this information to the contractors will assist them in selecting and designing of the foundation as well as the drainage and grading around the buildings. 1.4 Construction materials Site investigation information should elaborate on the type and availability of construction materials. The cost of the construction materials required should also be provided to the contractors. This will help the contractors to decide whether they are in a position to handle the challenge presented to them. 1.5 Transport and site accessibility Accessibility to the site has a greater effect on the costs of bringing in construction materials and equipment. It will also affect scheduling of the construction. This implies that, contractors are supposed to have prior information concerning the accessibility of the site so that they can schedule their activities in a timely manner. This will help the contractors to meet the deadline since they will be more likely not to cause any delay when they understand the accessibility of the site. Site investigation information should be made available to the contractors and subcontractors in the right time. That is, when the investigation is fully carried out. This will help in eliminating uncertainty and the risk to incur striking cost (exceeding budgets), and deadline extensions[AGS04]. 2.0 Pre – Tender Information Pack When tendering a certain project every contractor expects some information to be included in the pre-tender information pack. As a contractor in the development of Sainsbury’s Pontypridd, I would expect the following information to be included[Oli08]: Table 1.0: Pre-Tender Information Pack Introduction This section should introduce the pre-tender information pack Project description This section should include the following information: Programme details and project description Timescale for construction work completion[Edg09] Location details including the site name Map of the site Whether the structure will be used as a workplace or not Minimum time allowed amid instruction to start work on site and the appointment of the contractor Existing plans and records location and scope Management requirements and client’s consideration This section should include the following information: Organisation and structure Construction work planning and management which should include safety and health goals Whether the client is permitted to work systems Means of escape and emergency procedures Transport arrangements on the site and whether there is any restriction of vehicle movement Activities to be carried out on the site and any other adjacent activity to the site during the construction Communication arrangements between the parties Security arrangements Areas restricted to people involved in the construction Site fencing or hoarding requirements Provisions of welfare Fire precautions Areas labeled as confined spaces Smoking restrictions Parking restrictions Client’s employees health and safety information On site existing risks and environmental restrictions This section should include: Health hazards Safety hazards Significant construction and design hazards This section should include: Suggested work methods including assumptions to be made on the significant design Co-ordination arrangements of design changes and the ongoing design work Information concerning the significant risks which were identified during the design process Availability of materials which require certain precautions The health and safety document This section should include: Format and its layout 2.1 Construction Phase Health and Safety Plan The health and safety document contained in the Pre-Tender Information Pack will assist me as the principal contractor to develop it into a working document which will enable the health and safety management of the project[Joh09]. The construction phase health and safety plan directs the contractor on how he/she will manage health and safety of construction work. Pre-tender information pack normally contains a lot of information relating to health and safety issues. This information helps a contract to come up with a concise construction phase health and safety plan which is implemented on the construction site to ensure everyone is safe. Some of the information contained in the pre-tender information pack which assists the constructor to develop a working construction phase health and safety plan includes: Health hazards Safety hazards Format and layout of the health and safety document Information concerning the significant risks which were identified during the design process Client’s employees’ health and safety information Availability of materials which require certain precautions Areas restricted to people involved in the construction Means of escape and emergency procedures Security arrangements The information described above is very crucial when we come to the development of the construction phase health and safety plan. With this kind of information the principal contractor finds it very easy to develop the construction phase health and safety plan. Once this document is developed it should be reviewed and updated as the project develops to ensure that no one is in danger[Joh09]. This indicates that the contractor should not only rely on the pre-tender information pack to develop the construction phase health and safety plan but also on the things occurring on the construction site. The construction phase plan should contain arrangements aimed at ensuring safety, health and welfare for everyone affected by the project (those involved in the project and others outside the project but are affected by it). 3.0 Specific Logistics / Traffic Management Plan Since the construction site is near A470 highway, the construction team should ensure that the site activities do not bring a lot of disruptions on the highway network. This will be achieved through a well-laid traffic management plan. This section will provide a traffic management plan for the construction of Sainsbury stores in Pontypridd. The principle materials will be delivered by road because the construction site is within a proximity to a major highway. Vehicle movements will be kept minimal within the construction site. The delivery of materials will take place from the starting date till the construction period is over. Per day an average of 10 vehicles are expected to be moving into and from the site. 3.1 Access routes All site traffic will be expected to access the site through the main gate which will is located near A470 highway. This includes all vehicles delivering materials to all corners of the site. This gate will only be accessible between the following hours: Mon–Fri: 06:00-20:00hrs Sat–Sun: 06:00-10:00hrs Outside these hours only gate C should be used. A log of all the drivers accessing the site will be maintained which will include records of agreements with organizations involved in the construction. Any driver who will not comply with the prescribed access route rules will be subjected to a disciplinary action. Employees are also expected to use the main gate except those who will be residing in the site. 3.2 Site access Off-site holding of vehicles will not be allowed since the site has sufficient areas to allow all vehicles to be accepted directly. The main site access will be positioned well to allow all the vehicles entering the site to do so in a forward direction. Deliveries will be well scheduled through the involvement of the main suppliers to ensure that overnight parking is well taken care off. 3.3 Mud on roads The site area is not likely to be affected by mud because it is ground is covered by hard materials. To eliminate any chance of mud nuisance, necessary measures will be implemented. For instance, detritus and mud should not be swept directly to the gullies to avoid accumulation which can be a nuisance to the vehicles moving to and from the site. 3.4 Dust avoidance Dust will be kept as minimal as possible. All vehicles which will be involved in carrying dust materials and soil will be fully covered to reduce their chances of realizing dust on the site. Dusty areas will be water sprayed to reduce dust and site speed limits will be enforced to avoid unnecessary dust blowing. 3.5 Vehicle emission All the vehicles which will be used in the construction site should comply with the authority standards. To avoid unnecessary emissions from the vehicles, drivers and the suppliers will be expected to do the following[Fel07]: Stationary vehicles should be switched off to prevent exhaust emissions MOT emission standards should be complied with by all the vehicles at all times All vehicles should be maintained in good working conditions 3.6 Waste removal Waste products around the site will be minimized by recycling excess materials where possible. It is expected that 90% of the waste products will be recycled by the end of the project[RCT10]. Any other waste that should be removed from the site would be removed according to the site waste plan of the contractor which is supposed to comply with the environment requirements. These products will only be dumped at licensed areas or designated sites provided by the Rhondda Cynon Taff Council. The county council will monitor the process of waste product removal to ensure that it is deposited at the approved sites. 3.7 Lorries marking Lorries which will be used regularly in the construction site will be marked to reduce chances of illegal intruders getting access into the site. 3.8 Travel plan A travel plan for all individual who will be involved in the site construction will be prepared. It will address the current infrastructures which are available for the employees travelling to the site which will include the different transportation methods to be used. A suggestion of sharing the vehicles will be proposed on the travel plan in order to reduce traffic along the busy A470 highway. A further proposal of using a company subsidized minibus will also be included in the travel plan will ease the distribution of employees. 3.9 Monitoring Monitoring of all the activities in the site will be an ongoing process. All the involved parties are allowed to carry out their monitoring processes independently and report any incidence which is not working well. 4.0 Programme of Works The construction programme is expected to take around 10 months commencing in October 2011 subject to acquisition of planning permission from the Rhondda Cynon Taff Council[RCT11]. The phasing programme is outlined below: Table 1.1: Programme of works Activity Start Date End Date Enabling works/site preparations 2011 2011 Demolition of Brown Lenox Chain Works 2011 2011 Pilling October 2011 January 2012 Substructure construction January 2012 March 2012 Superstructure construction March 2012 June 2012 Fit out 30th June 2012 July 2012 4.0.1 Enabling Works/Site preparation Enabling of works will involve creating a new access to the construction site from the A470 highway. Site preparation will involve initial site formation which includes site perimeter fencing, office setup, and carrying out investigative works. Investigative works will be carried out to identify the status of the existing structures, contamination, services etc. 4.0.2 Demolition of Brown Lenox Chain Works This will involve demolition of Brown Lenox factory to create application sites. Heavy plant will be used in demolition process. During this process, vehicle movement will be minimized and dust will be controlled to minimum levels. 4.0.3 Substructure construction/Pilling This will involve pilling and foundation excavation as well as installing ground services. 4.0.4 Superstructure Construction Erection of the concrete frame will be the first phase of the superstructure. Tower cranes will be used to carry out these works. Scaffold will be erected in some areas. 4.0.5: Fit out This will involve the erection internal walls, electrical and mechanical installations, and final touches. 4.1 Site Specific Risk Assessments associated enabling of works operations Risks assessment is very crucial when we come to construction. It should be undertaken to avoid the negative impacts associated with it such as death and injuries. It involves simple steps which help in providing a safer workplace to everyone involved in the project[Saf99]. The following table provides specific risks assessment associated with enabling works: Table 1.2: risks assessments associated with enabling of works operations Source of Risk People Affected Control Measures Falling materials Site employees and members of public Materials at height should be minimized Adequate training, information and instruction should be provided Access equipment should be well maintained Manual Handling Site employees Manual handling should be minimized or eliminated. Exposure to dust Site employees and members of public Use protective equipment Exposure of dust should be monitored regularly Hand tools in use Site employees Adequate training, supervision, instruction and information should be provided concerning the safe use of hand tools. When these tools are not in use, they should be stored properly. Collapsing of materials Site employees and members of public Materials and equipment which are used should be stored appropriately. They should also be inspected regularly to ensure that they are still in the right positions. 5.0 Spanner in the Works A spanner in the works that affect most of the contractors is the site theft. Site theft can have a greater effect on programme of works which might lead to deferment from the completion dates. Deferment from completion dates is a serious problem because some organizations will never accept deadline extension. Therefore the site supervisor should make sure that site theft does not occur because it can cause some tasks to stop. Construction sites are normally targets for thieves due to the high value of equipment used there. People working in the construction site also can steal the equipment they are using thus the greatest responsibility of security watch lies in the hands of the supervisors. Security measures should be put in place and every staff should understand the implications of poor security. A clear policy statement is one of key security measures which should be implemented in the construction sites. Security measures which should be implemented to ensure that staffs understand the security policies of the contractor’s firm include: An individual should be responsible of any equipment in his/her possession. A loss of it due to carelessness or negligence should lead to a severe disciplinary action. Everyone on the site should understand the site’s security measures as well as the company policy on crime management[Cro98]. Suspicious incidents should be reported to the necessary authorities and this report will be treated in confidence. The staffs should immediately report any theft discovered to the local police giving all the necessary details. Perimeter protection is another great security measure which helps to counter site theft[Cro98]. Hoardings or fences offers the best perimeter protection if employed in the right manner. Entrances and exits are supposed to be kept at strategic positions to make it easier to identify probable thieves. Other safeguards which should be implemented on the site include good lighting, CCTV and alarm systems, and warning notices. Site theft can affect the progress of programme of works and in extreme cases it leads to the closure of the project. Therefore, site security is very important and should put into consideration by the supervisors and other members of the management team before the commencement of the project. Good security in construction site will ensure that all the process being undertaken there by the workers is not affected by loss of equipment or construction material. Reference List Hol10: , (Holubec Consulting Inc, 2010), AGS04: , (AGS, 2004), Oli08: , (GilMore, 2008), Edg09: , (Edge Lane West, 2009), Joh09: , (Johnston, 2009), Fel07: , (Stowe, 2007), RCT10: , (RCTCBC, 2010), RCT11: , (RCTCBC, 2011), Saf99: , (Safety Photo, 1999), Cro98: , (Crown, 1998), Read More