It is this note of safety I would first focus on in my column. In the trenchless industry, as in many civil construction industries, safety and good work-site practices are paramount.
At the recent No-Dig conference on the Gold Coast, we were fortunate to have three nbn Field Service Managers present to us on the roll-out, with Field Service Manager of WA Peter Gerring focusing on safety and the importance of following protocol when installing conduit with HDD in a presentation titled “War Stories and the four Ps”.
The Ps in question stand for plan, pot hole, protect and proceed. When crews are working long hours, encounter many obstacles, and working on tight deadlines, it can be all too easy to neglect planning and thorough following of procedures. However, the consequences of this neglect can result in wide-spread power outages, damage to assets and equipment, as well as serious injuries or fatalities. As we lead into the holiday season and deadlines are tight, I urge all contractors to be mindful of the four P’s and keep safety to the front of mind.
As we look toward 2016, there are a number of exciting initiatives in planning for the NSW chapter of the ASTT. I am pleased to report recent approval by the ASTT Council for the establishment of
the inaugural Special Interest Group for microtunnelling, chaired by Jim Shooter.
We are looking to continue with regular networking events and training opportunities for the state. I look forward to providing you with more information on these initiatives in the New Year.