An endemic failure to supervise: 16 June 2024

Is there endemic failure to supervise in parts of the construction industry. Do we really want more self-certification?

Let us build the best we can, let us take responsibility, every trade and role is vital.

For me, I put on work boots and a hard hat. I get to see a lot. As I provide the funding and I write the cheques being present is a no brainer.

A few projects down the line I now have a fantastic team. But it wasn’t always this way.

In a recent build, I was constantly at one trade trying to get the him to be on-site managing his ‘subbies’. Generally he didn’t turn up, life was on cruise-control . Net outcome, a major leak in one bathroom (it wasn’t the plumber). It cost him about $10,000. We agreed that my team would do the repair as I had no faith in his management.

Here are some other real examples showing poor to no supervision. I trusted these supervisors.

🙈 1: Several circuit breaker boards in one of my new developments were signed-off. Last week one was found to be smouldering. All experts (including an electrical inspector) say the connectors were loose [has a CoC].

🙈 2: Another board does not have a bond to the metal switch-board [has a CoC].

🙈 3: Someone signs a document says that they have visually inspected some manholes and can confirm pipe depth at 1.2 m below ground. Turns out no-one ever looked, diggers came in only to find they were at 60 cm below ground.

🙈 4: Someone claims they have checked that the under coat paints are compatible with the top-coats for an intumescent paint system. Turns out this was not the case [PS3 signed off as compatible]. The paint has completely failed and will cost many thousands to remediate as the structure needs to be disassembled to fix.

🙈 5: Someone signed off the installation of some brick tiles saying they were installed according to the building consent… someone had changed the adhesive system advising no one. Cladding is now beginning to show defects, who supervised?

Let us take supervision seriously, let us be proud of our work, point those houses out to future generations saying we built them, strive for excellence.