Whilst completing my Honours degree in Construction Management at the University of Pretoria, I was fortunate to be appointed as Subordinate Construction Supervisor for C.J. Irons Building Contractors and Property Developers on a new 5000m² three-story office building.

I was to work directly with the Construction Foreman in the execution of his duties, thereby learning and gaining experience in core construction competencies. I would ultimately get my hands dirty through physical construction, by working on the site and taking responsibility for setting out and marking of all the concrete works, from concrete foundations all the way through to reinforced slabs and five-level staircases.

The bulk of my technical knowledge and experience was developed on this project, which prepared me for my growth into more senior roles later on. The experience obtained from the Construction Foreman is invaluable and separated me from the bulk of my peers during the completion of my studies.

My key responsibilities and tasks during this project involved the following:

– Interpreting Working Drawings and Setting Out of Concrete Works.
– Managing and Filing Site Working Drawings.
– Managing and Directing the Site Labour Force.
– Coordinating with Subcontractors of Formwork, Reinforcing Steel, and Electrical.
– Inspecting Formwork and Reinforcing Steel for correct placement and installation as per the design.
– Implementation of Green Building requirements for Final Certification.
– Maintaining the Main Contractor Health and Safety File, implementing Health and Safety Policies, implementing scheduled inspections, supervising monthly audits by the external Health and Safety Inspector and implementing any recommendations or correcting any non-compliance issues that may arise.

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