Field Experience: Site Work Report

Journal of Construction in Developing Countries, 2020

Block laying productivity is an important factor in planning, scheduling and control of labour-intensive building projects with significant bearing on project cost and delays. Despite the wide application of block laying on building projects in Uganda, no study has modelled the productivity of block layers in terms of work output in comparison with individual attributes of block layers. This article explores the modelling of block laying productivity on building sites in Kampala based on an individual block layer's attributes and work environment. The data was collected using a specially designed measurement sheet filled on-site and a survey questionnaire to collect data on personal attributes of block layers from 40 building sites. In the estimated regression model, work height, number of porters per block layer and a combination of education and experience were significant at 95% confidence level. The results further show that neither education nor experience alone is important in explaining a block layer's productivity. Based on the results, it is clear that an experienced and educated block layer yields higher block laying productivity, which is important for project planning applications. These results are limited to building sites in Kampala, work heights not exceeding 6 m above ground level and 400 mm × 225 mm × 200 mm blocks.

The current paper is to identifying proper site work for construction because the project starts a certain time and finished certain time, this responsibility directly and indirectly related to project manager of Construction Company and Site planning process is the most critical point of project activities, construction duration, cost and safety. This paper is leading on huge multi-target to optimum strategy for temporary and permanent construction of site work planning. In conducting of this paper a systematic literature review was done. A systematic literature review can see as a path for identifying, evaluating, studying and interpreting available research which specific area or a topic area of interest. In discussions was found the most critical point on site work such as cleaning of site work, destruction of existing structure on the site, site surveying, and drainage system and finally found best method for site preparing. INTRODUCTION Each civil engineers will be encountered one day to the construction work finally. Construction Company needs place for management of project. The manager of company must be meeting with owner to provide the all equipment for site preparation. Construction manager can decision making on construction site for specifying the temporary location into the frontier of a construction site to recognizing spatial connection and extending best solution alternative because of efficiency and effectiveness of construction procedure is improved performance project life cycle cost [1]. Temporary Facilities (TFs) it means specific tasks which support the procedure of construction. TFs is not part of permanent structure just have related to short life limits. For instance TFs depends on construction projects involves; storage place, personnel road, materials road, staging areas, laydown zone, unloading area, prefabrication areas, equipment area, machinery area, hazard path, debris paths work area and tools finally protected area [2]. The size and types of TFs associated the project type, scale, properly design, and strategy of execution of construction. In the most essential respects of TFs is trade-off issue that decision should be made according to project characteristics for instance cost, security and safety without self-devotion quality of site plane [3]. Site planning process is the most critical point of project activities, construction duration, cost and safety. As known the jobsite layout, logistics as well documents are relating on site location within the construction site boundary. Utilization of site work needs to the construction planning and scheduling in long-term and be careful all evaluation of construction process [4]. Optimum of site work minimize the staff included movement of materials which staff can be spend time the carry out productivity construction tasks. Jobsite are cleaning and specifying staff working on environment which is positive pressure on worker moral and give a good results in high production during the work shift as well some important factors are related on site planning of construction such as allocation area for jobsite likes material delivery, material storage, temporary offices on site work, the next one is jobsite access like haul roads, the second one is material handling like movement of material on site work, since vertically and horizontally; equipment lifting, involve forklifts and cranes, third one is transportation of worker, the next phase are temporary opportunity; temporary office; facilities of storage dray shacks, sanitary facilities, temporary water, heat, telephone, power, and internet connections, the next stage should be arrange the security; these are includes guard dogs, electronic alarm system, temporary fencing, security patrols, and watch man, finally barricades and signage to protect the public through construction site work because site work is hazards [4].

Construction in West Africa, 2012

Many of the current textbooks used to teach construction-related courses in West African institutions fail to fully articulate the local construction practices and stylized facts that are unique to construction in the region. !is textbook is an attempt to begin bridging this gap. !e main aim is to illuminate some of the main issues and local practices relating to construction in West Africa, to provide a basis for understanding the nature of the construction sector in the subregion, and its relationship with local practices elsewhere in the world. !e idea of writing a textbook on construction in West Africa emerged during the WABER 2010 Conference which took place in Accra, Ghana on 19-21 July. Looking at the 150+ participants comprising of construction academics, researchers and practitioners, we saw the WABER conference as an opportunity to mobilise ourselves and take this "rst step of providing a useful textbook for students and researchers of construction in West Africa. Although the o#cial title of the book is: “Construction in West Africa”, its origins and process of development has led most people to simply refer to it as the “WABER Book”. !e end result just goes to show what we can collectively achieve when we work together, share ideas and combine what we know. !e chapters have been written by ten academics of West African origin based in six different countries. !e reviewers of the draft chapters for the book are based in ten countries. !is scope and diversity is one of the strengths underpinning the textbook, in that, the authors touch on a variety of interesting areas and draw upon a broad array of experiences. In some chapters, the authors have been able to relate their experiences of the construction sector in West Africa to local practices elsewhere. !e "rst chapter addresses the nature of economies in West Africa and its relationship with the construction sector. !e production of construction goods, services, utilities and works happens within an economic context. This chapter helps in our understanding of some of the issues relating to demand and supply of construction goods and services, stylized features of the construction sector, and economic institutions that support the construction industry such as banks, insurance "rms, derivative markets and non-bank "nancial institutions. !e second chapter provides a lens for understanding some of the historical antecedents shaping the construction of buildings and infrastructure in West Africa. Architecture and urbanisation in most West African cities have been significantly influenced by the colonial period. Many buildings in West African cities were constructed during the colonial period, as evidenced by the structures in areas such as Accra, Lagos, Abidjan and Bamako. However, one interesting thing about these buildings is how they have been incorporated over time into the local and dynamic fabric of the locality, although their uses may have changed over time according to the needs of the population, they continue to stand and testify to the British and French influence of this period and African adaptability in the independence period. !e third chapter deals with the commonly seen architecture and building forms in West Africa. !e concepts of traditional architecture, colonial architecture and contemporary architecture are examined to consider the potential implications on future design and construction practices. !is chapter examines the material form and construction of speci"cally West African architecture, attempting a brief survey of buildings from the nomadic dwellings of the Saharas dry savannah belt, through to the rainforest wattle and daub settlements, to the stilt buildings found in the mangrove swamps in coastal West Africa. It highlights the relationship of building construction and form to socio-cultural economic and environmental contexts in each case. As construction activities involve input from people with the relevant knowledge and skills, the fourth chapter on human resources explores some of the common Human Resources practices in public and private construction sectors, particularly, in Ghana and Nigeria. Key issues discussed include the role and demand of human resources, workforce compositions and human resource challenges. A useful point discussed is the need for better strategic management of the construction workforce to improve the development and sustenance of the construction sector and its contribution to the economic development of the subregion. One of the initial activities carried out for every construction project or property development is planning. !is may be carried out in formal and informal ways depending on the scale of the development, location and regulatory requirements. Although there is evidence of some level of planning and building regulations during the pre-colonial era in most countries in West Africa, it was not until the colonial administration that formal planning and building regulations were institutionalised. Several decades a%er independence, most of the legislations and institutions established still take centre stage in current planning and building regulatory activities. With increasing urbanization in West African countries, the adequacy and strength of such institutions are put to test. In the "%h chapter, three issues are discussed in relation to the planning processes and building regulations of countries in West Africa, i.e. the planning process, building regulations and the state of cities. vii Procurement approaches and contract networks are essential parts of construction projects. In a wider sense, procurement processes relate to the methods and relationships involved in the acquisition of goods, utilities, services and works. In construction, a procurement strategy describes the roles, responsibilities and relationships of the various organizations involved in developing the funding, design, construction and operation of a building or facility. In the sixth chapter, some of the salient issues covered include the institutional framework within which construction is procured; how to develop a tendering and procurement strategy for a construction project appropriate to its context; key constraints on organizing construction supply chains; and the impact of the economy on the options open to a procurer of construction work. Anyone involved in procurement decisionmaking should have a clear understanding of the various stages of deciding on a procurement policy, including sources of funds, management of design, management of construction, integration of supply chain, calculation of price, and method for selecting contracting parties including consultants. !ey also need to have an understanding of the various kinds of contracts used in construction. !e seventh chapter focuses on the calculation of price which is a fundamental activity in construction contracts. !ere are various techniques of how prices are calculated i.e. "xed price or cost reimbursement. !is mechanism for calculating the construction price has an impact on the pricing strategy of a contractor, and on the risks associated with cash #ow, "nancial protection and, ultimately, price. !e issues covered include the calculation of construction costs, elements of a bidding price, factors considered by contractors in deciding whether or not to bid for a project, and risks that a$ect pricing levels. !ree important concepts relating to price formation in contracts are cost, price and value. Cost refers to the amount people pay for their resources. Price refers to the amount for which people sell their products or services. Value refers to the amount buyers are willing to pay for products and services, i.e. how much it is worth to the buyer. !e relationship between these three concepts is vital in procurement and price formation in construction contracts. Once a project is planned and the contractual arrangements are set out between the employer, contractor and other members of the supply chain, appropriate materials and methods need to be mobilised for actual production of the work on a construction site. Chapter eight o$ers a detailed explanation of various kinds of methods and materials used in construction production, particularly in Ghana. It discusses the indigenous self-built construction techniques in Ghana and provides comprehensive range of alternative solutions covering contemporary and conventional methods of construction. Some of the key areas described relate to construction methods of foundations and retaining structures, ground water control, #oors, walls, doors and windows and roofs, which form the major components of a building structure. Most of these are illustrated with drawings viii and photographs of actual construction techniques in progress. Education is key to the development and future of the construction professions and industry in West Africa. !e "nal chapter looks at the major academic institutions in the region that provide built environment education, and the courses o$ered. Most part of the built environment education o$ered in universities has traditionally been focused around six main areas of architecture, building, estate management, quantity surveying, surveying and geoinformatics, and urban and regional planning. New areas like construction management, project management, real estate, and procurement management are emerging. It is crucial to keep the built environment programmes o$ered in West African institutions fresh and upto- date. A possible way to achieve this is to align the programmes with changing national needs and global trends. As to the best of our knowledge this is the "rst textbook of its kind focusing on West Africa. It is impressive to have such an important piece of academic material from a wide range of West African academics. We wish to thank and commend all eight authors of this first edition on a job well done. Editors Construction in West Africa

2015

This paper documents the earth construction techniques used in Ota in order to preserve the earth construction heritage of the Ota people while checking the suitability of the earth materials used, using soil classification tests. Interviews of earth constructors in six villages in Ota were conducted to determine their material selection criteria, material processing and construction techniques. Colour and texture of soil samples were determined and in-situ tests such as biscuit, cigar, hand-wash and adhesion tests were performed on soil samples used for earth building construction at three of the villages. Natural moisture content, sieve and hydrometer analyses, and Atterberg limits test were performed in the laboratory, on soil samples taken from these three locations. It was revealed from the interview sessions that cob construction technique is widely used and that earth building construction is becoming less-appealing to the youths in these locations. The soil samples at the th...

2023

The research focuses on the construction site management practices and the challenges that impede such practices in Ondo and Lagos states of Nigeria respectively with the view of minimizing waste and improve sustainability concept on public project delivery. The research survey targeted Architects, Quantity Surveyors, Builders and Civil Engineers affiliated with indigenous contracting firms through the administration of well-structured questionnaires. A simple random sampling technique was adopted in choosing the research respondents. The collected data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Out of 301 questionnaires distributed, only 135 questionnaires were returned and analyzed with 44.85% response rate. In-depth interview were also conducted on some selected site workers (labors) to elicit their views on the level of awareness and adoption of site management practices in their various sites. The results shows that minutes writing, resource leveling, cash flow management, proper payroll and daily work report are the five (5) topmost site management practices adopted on construction sites in the study area. The study also shows that respondents are highly aware about the site management practices. The result further shows that Lack of standardization in equipment management, plant hiring/purchasing problems, lack of on-site assistance, wrong curing procedures, ineffective communication practices, are the five major challenges that impede site management practices in the study area. Analysis of the transcribed interview shows that the site workers (labour) aware about the site management practices but are rarely followed judiciously. The research seeks the opinion view of construction professionals in the study area which may not be generalize to all other construction sites in southwestern geopolitical zone of Nigeria; construction site workers needs to be kept abreast of the site management practices by organizing regular training for all cadre of site workers. The implication for practice is that investing in training will improve productivity, loyalty, minimizing of waste to the environment and increase contractors profitability. The study seeks to support the concept of buttressing the awareness on practicing adequate site management strategies on construction sites rather than relying on theoretical concept on the subject matter. It supports the proposition that adequate awareness of these practices will improve construction project performance.

2017

The aim of this paper is to present discussions on the construction health and safety skills supply on construction sites in Tanzania. Specifically, the study focuses on the contents and methods for supplying health and safety skills to the casual labourers on construction sites. A mixed approach research type was used and questionnaires were administered to 180 casual labourers and 42 safety officers and gang supervisors on six construction sites. The response rate was 81% equating to 180 fairly filled questionnaires. The results were enhanced through interview with six site managers and observation of site activities. Collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.0, Relative Agreement Index (RAI) and content analysis. The findings indicate that health and safety skills are predominantly supplied to construction casual labourers informally through practical experiences, briefing toolbox meetings and informal discussions whereby tactic and explicit knowledge was generated. The s...

International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering, Management & Applied Science

Eliminating hazards on construction sites has been a challenge for small and medium-sized contractors. This has contributed to the high rate of incidents that have resulted in injuries, emotional stress, and even fatalities among construction artisans. To avoid these incidences on construction sites, hazards need to be easily identified by these workers. This study sought to analyse hazards that artisans in small and medium-sized construction firms in Ghana are exposed to during project delivery. A cross-sectional design was adopted in this study. In total, one hundred and twenty (120) construction artisans were involved in the study. Data analysis revealed that several hazards exist on construction sites, and experienced workers are more likely to identify hazardous situations on construction sites than inexperienced workers. The study categorized the identified hazards on construction sites into task-induced, site-induced, and human-induced hazards. Most of the identified hazards ...

Materials Today: Proceedings, 2020

''Excellent EIA leaders are the superior communicators". Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) at its heart is a practical tool for evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development , taking into account interrelated socioeconomic , cultural and human-health impacts, both beneficial and adverse. The main objective of this EIA report is to indicate the positive & negative impacts of the civil engineering project during its construction and to identify whether the projects are developing under the normal path as per the work schedule or not and also to suggest the mitigate measures to overcome any of the adverse impacts to the environment. The likely impacts of any proposed / ongoing construction projects can be examined by compiling and assessing the multidisciplinary information under EIA. In the current EIA study, an ongoing building construction activity is undertaken to assess all the necessary information for the insight judgment and prediction on how effectively the project is proceeding , and to highlight all the major positive and negative impacts upon the ongoing project; and finally to conclude the mitigative measures to overcome the negative impacts, in general. Keeping this as a keen view in mind, the study was conducted at Ongoing project in Ambo University Referral Hospital site, Ambo, Ethiopia. The data were collected through the structured questionnaire and all the major factors were analyzed, compiled and screened out.

FOREWORD Welcome to this West Africa Built Environment Research (WABER) conference taking place here in Ghana. Thank you for coming and welcome to Accra. The main aims of the WABER conference are: to help young researchers and early-career scholars in West Africa to develop their research work and skills through constructive face-to-face interaction with experienced academics; to provide a platform for networking and collaborative work among senior built environment academics in West Africa; and to serve as a vehicle for developing the field of construction management and economics in Africa. Waber 2009 The WABER event in 2009 was held at the British Council in Accra, Ghana on 2-3 June. The event was a resounding success. It attracted participation from 32 researchers, from 12 different institutions, who presented their work to an audience of approximately 100 people. Each presenter received immediate and constructive feedback from an international panel. The event was opened by Professor K.K. Adarkwa, Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana, with several senior academics and researchers from universities, polytechnics, and other institutions in Ghana and Nigeria in attendance. There was also a significant level of attendance by senior construction practitioners in Ghana. Thank you to the School of Construction Management and Engineering, University of Reading, UK for funding the inaugural event in 2009. We are also grateful to all of you who helped to make the event a success and to those of you who have joined us here today to build upon the success and legacy of WABER 2009. Waber 2010 This year, we have 60+ peer-reviewed papers and presentations on topics relating to Building services and maintenance, Construction costs, Construction design and technology, Construction education, Construction finance, Construction procurement, Contract administration, Contract management, Contractor development, Decision support systems, Dispute resolution, Economic development, Energy efficiency, Environment and sustainability, Health and safety, Human resources, Information technology, Marketing, Materials science, Organisation strategy and business performance, Productivity, Project management, Quantity surveying, Real estate and planning, Solar energy systems, Supply chain management and Urban development. We hope that these papers will generate interest among delagates and stimulate discussion here and beyond the conference into the wider community of academia and industry. The delegates at this conference come from 10 different countries. This provides a rich international and multicultural blend and a perfect platform for networking and developing collaborations. This year we are blessed to have three high profile keynote speakers in the persons of Professor George Ofori (National University of Singapore), Dr Roine Leiringer (University of Reading, UK) and Professor Will Hughes (University of Reading, UK). We are also thankful to Dr Chris Harty (University of Reading, UK) who is facilitating the Research Skills Workshop on ‘Writing a scientific article’. Thank you to Dr Sena Agyepong of our conference organising team for her capable management of local organising arrangements. And above all, thank you to all of you for coming to this conference. Enjoy and have a safe journey back home. Dr Samuel Laryea School of Construction Management and Engineering University of Reading, July 2010

AICA Magazine, 2024

The renewed interest in this painter, engraver, draftsman, womanizer, fighter, debtor and genius native of the Netherlands is evident, so the question that is rightly asked is: Who is Rembrandt today? The art critic, Juan Carlos Flores Zúñiga, examines the life and work of the Dutch artist based on his creative legacy.