With 2022 set to be the wettest year on record, I’ve spent more than enough days this year tracking through muddy job sites. This has led me to reflect on some of the lessons I’ve learnt when it comes to managing construction sites in the face of wet weather.
I have been fortunate over my years of being involved in land development and construction to have had some great mentors. One thing I have realised is that mentors come in all different forms – from different backgrounds, occupations and with different skill sets.
Hindsight also tells me that I’ve learnt lessons from people, often without being conscious of them even mentoring me. I now realise that spending my university breaks being told by a site foreman to continuously drive an empty off road dump truck up and down an earthworks pad, to seal it by wheel rolling, makes perfect sense.
Truth be told, I can admit that I haven’t always heeded the warnings that often came with those lessons. I have had to learn the hard way about the impact water falling from the sky can have on the best laid plans.
It can be said that our climate in NSW typically allows for reasonable construction productivity all year round. In fact, it was not that long ago that we were under water restrictions, and looking for ways to build in the face of drought and water shortages. I question whether a pre-2022 good run of weather made us complacent.
Prior to 2022, I think it is fair to say that we had been lucky when it comes to weather. I’ve been told stories about how wet it was through the 70s and 80s (well before I joined the work force) so I guess this isn’t a new problem. Whilst there is still a sprinkling of the older generation of experience throughout the construction industry, does our aging population mean that we are losing too many of those mentors skilled in the art of managing construction sites in the face of wet weather?
Maybe we just need to sharpen our skills and way of thinking when it comes to how we approach preparing construction sites. One observation of climate change is that we seem to be experiencing more extreme weather events. We might need to accept that the chance of recurring, above average rainfall is high.
The rain forecast for the remainder of this year is not looking promising! Below are 5 tips on how to manage construction projects during wet weather:
Get the simple things right
It is no secret that the challenges being faced by the land development and construction industry in 2022 are immense. At Orion Group, we are always looking for ways to help our clients achieve their program targets.
Every construction site is different, but I do believe that careful planning and being prepared for wet weather can reduce downtime, saving time and money. Without proper planning, by the time it starts raining it is often too late to mitigate the damage.
With one eye on the weather forecast, simple tasks that can make a big difference include taking the time to wheel roll pads, seal stockpiles or over fill sag points so they don’t hold water. These mitigations can mean getting back to work quicker after rainfall.
Prioritise site access & construction site planning
Don’t overlook the importance of having good site access and established haul roads for the following reasons:
Being able to continue taking deliveries of materials or move around a job site soon after wet weather can make a big difference to a project completion date.
Electrical outage dates don’t move due to wet weather. The ability to use well thought out and constructed haul roads can be the difference between getting the necessary pre-outage works done or having to wait months for another booking.
When site access isn’t possible after significant rain, getting started again can often mean making a mess of previously completed work.
Typically, we do the minimum required when it comes to creating stabilised access points. Managing Urban Stormwater (or The Blue Book as it is often referred to) suggests a minimum 15 metre length to ensure all-weather access and to reduce the likelihood of vehicles tracking soil materials onto public roads. If constructing decent haul roads could save a month at the end of a project, would we still opt for the minimum?
Consider inclement weather in tender documentation
As consultants, we need to encourage our clients to give more consideration to inclement weather. Investing in all-weather tracks and incorporating these design elements so that they are included in tender documentation can make a difference.
Currently, the competitive tender environment doesn’t leave room for a contractor to build in allowances aimed at mitigation of a weather risk. In a competitive tender the contractor often carries the risk, with wet weather allowances built into a program for completion or limitations around qualifying causes of delay. It’s important to be practical and work with contractors to help protect everyone’s interest.
Soil and water management
When thinking about soil and water management essentials, consider where sediment basins are usually located and how you might get to them after a week of rain. Flocculating, testing, and pumping a full sediment basin can be an important first step when dewatering a site. It allows you to pump more water from other parts of the site into it once empty, if the sediment basin is inaccessible more time can be lost.
Again, careful planning and management can help. The use of haul roads, clean water diversion drains and having a plan of what you will do when it rains can get you back to work quicker and reduce the risk of fines. How often do we fail to consider what a site might look like and where the water will go after significant rain?
Mitigating safety risks
Whilst I think we can agree it should be one of our first considerations, it is also important to mention the increased risk to worker safety on poorly planned sites.
Designing out risk is a commonly undertaken task now. It is important to consider ground stability or how slippery or soft the ground might be after rain in these design reviews.
I am a big believer in controlling what you can control.
Some will argue that spending time planning won’t help solve issues with waterlogged ground and wet quarry materials. I don’t have all the answers but I have seen projects crippled due to a lack of planning.
When everything is going well and the sun is shining we have a tendency to gloss over the importance of simple measures in the interest of getting actual work done.
At Orion Group we encapsulate intelligent Engineering Design, responsive and solutions focused Project Management, commercially minded Urban & Regional Planning as well as robust and experienced Construction Management services, with each business unit being actively led by proven industry experts.
Our team of construction superintendents boast years of contracting experience and hours of getting our boots muddy. We know that every construction site has its own challenges, some more than others. If you are faced with a challenging site, I’d love to hear about it. I might be able to help, or you might teach me a valuable lesson, so get in touch.
WAYNE AZZOPARDI | TECHNICAL DIRECTOR CONSTRUCTION | ORION GROUP
Mobile: 0400 703 081 | Email: wayne.azzopardi@theoriongroup.au
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