Construction and Installation - Project Planning and Management for Ecological Restoration - page 156

• Is there a volunteer workforce capable of performing a lot of work using simple tools but
not trained in operating certain pieces of equipment?
• Do you have access to skilled operators of the desired equipment?
• Is the equipment available for rent or for hire?
• Do you know the best equipment and tools to use in certain situations?
• Do you understand the limitations of the equipment?
When contracting work, it is generally best to let the contractor figure out which equipment will
best do the job. Contractors often come up with ingenious choices of tools and equipment to per-
form the required work cost-efficiently. If a contractor suggests employing a piece of equipment
with which you are unfamiliar, you may want to ask how the equipment will perform in your situ-
ation and to request examples of projects the equipment was used for in the past.
Worker Training
A trained workforce is another underlying factor for successful restoration project work. Training,
formal and informal, can take many forms. All employees and volunteers should know their roles
and responsibilities and should understand the procedures and techniques for the specific tasks
(box 10-2). Those overseeing project construction and installation should be knowledgeable and
experienced in all tasks that will be performed by their workforce.
Contractors and subcontractors are required under their license to conduct periodic safety
training for all crew members. Safety training should not be overlooked just because licensed
contractors are not involved with your project. When working with volunteers or day laborers, it is
important to start off each morning with an overview of the important safety measures that must
be followed.
When overseeing the work of a contractor or subcontractor, it is the project manager's re-
sponsibility to make sure that the contractor or subcontractor is using employees who have been
trained in the tasks they will be performing and who understand the safety measures that must be
followed. It would be nice if one could assume that this is true; however, experience has shown
that it is important to check up on the caliber of the laborers who will be installing your project. A
good time to bring up the issue of experience of a contractor's employees is when you are review-
ing the project plans and specifications with the contractor, if not already at the contract award
selection interview.
Site Inspection
Site inspection during construction and installation is critical to the success of ecological resto-
ration projects (box 10-3). The primary role of the site inspector is to make certain that a restoration
project adheres to the restoration project plans and specifications.
The restoration project site inspector performs two functions: a “hard-hat function” and a “soft-
hat function.” The “hard-hat function” of the site inspector is to observe and sometimes measure