Profession civil engineering worker

Civil engineering workers perform tasks concerning the cleaning and preparation of construction sites for civil engineering projects. This includes the work on building and maintenance of roads, railways and dams.

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Personality Type

• Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

• Dredging consoles

  The configuration of different types of dredging consoles. How the functions of the dredge are mapped to the console.

• Compaction techniques

  The field of information which consists of a variety of techniques to spread asphalt over roads. Each technique is determined by the concept of the asphalt mix and the used paving technique. This is determined by its rolling and chip distribution.

• Road traffic laws

  Understand road traffic laws and the rules of the road.

• Mechanical tools

  Understand machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

• Excavation techniques

  The methods to remove rock and soil, used in an excavation site and the associated risks.

• Rail infrastructure

  Thoroughly understand the characteristics of railway infrastructure: rail technologies, track gauges, rail signalling, rail junctions, etc.

• Work trains

  The composition and functions of a work train, a train composed of automatic machines that remove, inspect, adjust and lay railway ballast, sleepers and rails.

Skills

• Follow health and safety procedures in construction

  Apply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.

• Position guardrails and toeboards

  Attach guardrails and toeboards to the scaffolding standards at set heights and intervals to ensure the safety of the workers and prevent objects from falling. Secure the guardrails using couplers or wedges.

• Inspect construction supplies

  Check construction supplies for damage, moisture, loss or other problems before using the material.

• Guide operation of heavy construction equipment

  Guide a colleague in operating a piece of heavy construction equipment. Follow the operation closely and understand when feedback is called for. Use communication techniques like voice, two-way radio, agreed-upon gestures and whistles to signal the appropriate information to the operator.

• Remove road surface

  Remove an existing road surface. Use the appropriate machinery or coordinate with machine operators to assist in the excavation of asphalt or concrete road coverings.

• Lay pipe installation

  Install the system of pipes used to transport a fluid, be it a liquid or a gas, from one point to another and connect it to the fuel and water supply lines, air ducts, and other components.

• Provide pipe bedding

  Lay bedding in a trench to stabilise a pipe if called for. Lay bedding beneath the pipe and around it to protect from environmental influences.

• Prepare subgrade for road pavement

  Make sure the surface underneath the road is ready to be paved. Ensure that it is flat, stable and able to resist the mechanical stresses of road traffic.

• Dig soil mechanically

  Use mechanical equipment to dig up and move soil. Form pits according to excavation plans.

• Inspect construction sites

  Ensure health and safety during the construction project by inspecting the construction site regularly. Identify risks of putting people in danger or of damaging construction equipment.

• Inspect road signs

  Inspect road signs for signs of corrosion, outdated information, nicks and dents, legilibility and reflectance. Decide on the course of action when problems are found.

• Inspect railways visually

  Visually check the integrity of train tracks, sleepers, and ballast. This is usually done in reaction to reports from workers or detections by sensors.

• Inspect asphalt

  Inspect the placement of asphalt concrete ensuring that the specifications are met and no flows are present.

• Inspect drainage channels

  Maintain and clear gutters, sewer systems, and other water carrying facilities to ensure proper drainage and prevent damage to infrastructure such as roads and railways.

• Work in a construction team

  Work as part of a team in a construction project. Communicate efficiently, sharing information with team members and reporting to supervisors. Follow instructions and adapt to changes in a flexible manner.

• Use safety equipment in construction

  Use elements of protective clothing such as steel-tipped shoes, and gear such as protective goggles, in order to minimise risk of accidents in construction and to mitigate any injury if an accident does occur.

• Transport construction supplies

  Bring construction materials, tools and equipment to the construction site and store them properly taking various aspects into account such as the workers' safety and protection from deterioration.

• Lay base courses

  Lay the stabilising courses that support a road. Lay the road base, which enhances the drainage properties of the road, and a sub-base if called for. Use the correct material for this, usually a mix of aggregates or local secondary materials, sometimes with some binding agents added.

• Perform drainage work

  Dig draining ditches and lay the pipe or gutter installation to allow evacuation of surplus liquid and avoid subsidence or other damage.

• Pave asphalt layers

  Use different grades of asphalt to lay the asphalt layers of a road. Lay an asphalt base layer with low bitumen content to provide a stable surface, a binder layer with intermediate bitumen content, and a surface layer containing the highest grade material with the highest bitumen content to withstand the stresses of road transport. Tend a paver to lay the asphalt or use different techniques and instruments.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB