DISCLAIMER: ALL IMAGES BELOW WERE CAPTURED ON UTILITY CONSTRUCTION

JOBSITES BY MYSELF, RICHARD ROMAN

1. The image posted below was taken on a jobsite where work was being
performed to install a new gas service to an existing residential home. As you
can see from the annotations on the picture, during excavation an
unexpected fiber optic cable was present in the duct and was damaged by
the backhoe performing the excavation. This error was detected only when
the damage had already taken place, however there are some steps in the
excavation process that could have prevented the issue had they have been
followed more precisely. The green stake in the forefront of the picture signals
to the crew performing the work that a sewer line was present and although
the utility was incorrect, they should have been digging with more caution
around the area. If the crew had used proper hand digging techniques, they
would of likely uncovered the buried fiber optic cable without causing the
same amount of damage.
2. The images below both document restoration work that was performed to the
road surface after completion of a natural gas service replacement. As you
can clearly see, the restoration work is very unprofessional and does not
measure up to the existing road quality. This creates an issue for cars
traveling on the road and potentially kicking up the loose asphalt towards
bystanders, other vehicles on the road and also themselves. It is my opinion
that the cause of this human error relates to a rushed performance, and an
overall lack of care. The issue was detected by a customer, and ultimately
reflects very poorly on our business. I do not believe
that there was any lack of knowledge or understanding in this case, rather a
simple lack of regard that can only be corrected by an increased focus by
those who performed the work.

3. I took the pictures below on a jobsite where 2 poly ethylene gas main was
being installed to replace a leaking, older cast iron system. From the pictures
below you can see that instead of using proper end caps to protect foreign
objects from entering the pipeline, a small amount of duct tape was used
haphazardly instead. This error puts the quality of the installed system at
risk, and could lead to severe issues depending on what foreign objects may
have managed to make their way into the pipe. This issue was detected by a
service provider inspector, and actually lead to financial punishment for our
organization. This issue, along with the negative effects it had, could have
easily been prevented should the crew performing the work had followed the
proper procedure. In this scenario, proper procedure includes a plastic end
cap being firmly fastened to the end of the pipe. Following the procedure
would not have caused a great deal of trouble to the laborers, and it certainly
would have saved a large amount of heartache.
4. The image below displays a 50 foot extension cord that was manufactured
improperly leading to a dangerous error. As you can clearly see, the
grounding pin which the cord is designed to include is missing. In the case of
the owner of this cord, the error was fortunately discovered during a routine
audit of tools and material that are part of our company process. This short
inspection potentially saved a member of the labor crew from what could
have been a serious electric shock injury. The process which we have for tool
inspection takes only about 30 min, and is narrated by a generic checklist
detailing commonly used tools, and the common errors that tend to exist in
their use or conception. To prevent any injury from occurring from the use of
this cord, it was disposed of in the proper manner and replaced.

5. The picture below was captured in Westfield NJ, and shows damage to a 1
plastic water service which was not marked out, encountered, and
subsequently damaged within a trench being dug for the installation of a 6
elevated pressure gas main. Unfortunately for the crew performing the work,
the issued was detected when the water main was severed thus causing a
rapid release of water. This issue is very common in my line of work and
specifically relates to faulty use of technology on behalf of the company
responsible for marking out existing utilities for the facility owner. The orange
stake on the left hand side of the trench shows where the water line was
perceived to be placed according to the operator of the radar technology
 used to locate underground piping. The yellow stake approximately 7 to the
right of the mark shows where the utility was actually located. In my opinion,
the only way to significantly reduce the amount of these issues is to
implement more rigorous training for those tasked with marking utilities in
the state of NJ.

6. The image below depicts a construction working operating a plate tamper

designed to compact asphalt and other aggregate material as part of the
restoration process. The technique in which the worker is using the device is
correct, however if you look very closely, you will see the error relates to the
safety precautions which were ignored. All workers using this equipment are
required to attach protective shields to the top of their boots in order to
protect them from injury. This worker is clearly not following instruction and is
 putting himself at a great deal of risk. Our company has very clearly outlined
safety procedures which are not being adhered to, and there typically is
discipline related to the breaking of these rules. The worker in this situation
has over 20 years of construction experience, therefore the error is due to
ignorance, rather than a lack of knowledge. As a company, we are forced to
deal with the ignorance because we are ultimately responsible for the safety
of our employees and are under very tight scrutiny from organizations like
OSHA.

7. The next image depicts damage that was caused to an electric metering box
in Elizabeth NJ. In this situation, a backhoe performing excavation work in the
areas surrounding the box was backing up and collided with the metal
structure. The loud bang that resulted from the impact was a clear indication
that human error had occurred. The process which was employed by the
equipment operator while moving about the job site is the sole reason why
this error took place. According to the procedure spelled out by my company
for the operation of mechanized equipment, prior to work being performed
the operator is required to walk down the job site and identify and potential
obstacles or hazards in the work zone. If completed, the operator would have
identified this electric meter as an obstacle, and would have known to
proceed with extreme caution while working. Additionally, there are
processes mandated by the company with regards to operating large
equipment in reverse, specifically the need for a spotter employee to guide
the machine backwards clear of any obstacles. All employees have received
the proper training in these areas, and once again the error is due to failure
to adhere to processes.
8. The image below was taken on a jobsite where work was being performed to
replace a 2 copper water service feeding a commercial building. The issue
here is somewhat undetectable to the naked eye, but was easily spotted by a
representative of our safety department. The employees right hand is
located in what we call the line of fire meaning should he begin using the
jackhammer, the downward motion will slam his hand into the asphalt likely
resulting in injury. It would also appear that the employee is operating the
jackhammer from a prone like position which is strictly prohibited. This type
of grunt work is often delegated to the newer employees, meaning that
their level of knowledge is not quite as high as it may be for others on the
crew. In this case, this employee was remitted back to jackhammer and other
basic tool training to prevent similar issues going forward. An additional
aspect of prevention which could have helped to avoid this situation would be
peer supervision. Although this employee lacked basic knowledge, there are
others working with him that certainly know better, and they should have
never allowed this to take place.
9. Below is an image recorded from a very serious incident involving a crane
truck that flipped on its side while traveling from one jobsite to another. There
was no need for investigation into the detection of this issue, as it was clear
as day that human error had occurred. The driver of the rig was traveling on a
banked road at an unsuitable speed which ultimately resulted in the tipping
of the vehicle. Luckily in this case, no one was injured and the vehicle was
salvageable. The process in which the driver of this vehicle attempted to
follow was flawed and could have easily been prevented. Prior to traveling on
this road with such a large piece of machinery, it should have been scoped
out and evaluated. If this had been done beforehand, we would have deemed
this road treacherous and came up with a more detailed process, or possibly
even avoided the road all together. I do not think that education or lack of
knowledge came into play with this error, rather complacency and over
confidence on behalf of the extremely well tenured driver.
10.I documented the image below at the scene of an overturned trailer in a
Pennsylvania suburb. The obvious human error here was detected first by the
driver of the vehicle, and then by a vast amount of concerned residents. A
machine of this size and weight created a massive commotion when tipped
over, and certainly did not produce a positive image of our company in the
eyes of homeowners living in the neighborhood where we were set to begin
work. Starting a project in such a negative manner is sure to lead to other
issues and it is imperative that they be avoided. This error was the result of a
breakdown in several different areas of our organization. First off, the trailer
which was transporting the additional piece of equipment was not the correct
size. This should have been caught by not only the driver, but the others
working in the equipment shop where it was loaded. Second, this equipment
was not ideal however it could have been suitable at an appropriate speed.
Based on the drivers account of the incident, the turn was taken with a tad
too much speed, resulting in the accident. The lack of understand
demonstrated by the driver caused an error which fortunately did not injure
anyone, but resulted in a large financial loss.
11.The picture below was taken on a jobsite after human error had been
detected. The worker on the left of the machine is providing proof with a
measuring stick that the machine loaded on the trailer was left at an
unsuitable clearance height. This is a procedure quality error at its finest.
When preparing for travel, the procedure that was being followed, did not
include any focus towards clearance height despite the overhead features
present along the route. When pulling out the machine clipped a de-
energized power line causing it to fall to the ground. A member of a separate
company also working on the jobsite witnessed the incident and flagged the
driver down immediately. To avoid this issue going forward, a quality process
for transporting tall objects was thrust into place. Currently, it is required that
prior to loading the machine the driver must survey the route for any
overhead obstacles and document their measurement. After this has been
completed, the driver must calculate of height of the machine plus the trailer
and compare the measurements to obstacles documented. Any discrepancies
will be resolved by either altering the route, or removing the overhead items
where possible.
12.The image below shows a pneumatic air compressor which came dislodged
from its hitch while being towed behind a utility body pickup truck. The issue
of a faulty hitch apparatus was detected through quality inspections prior to
the incident, however it was overlooked out of need. The crew felt that they
had no choice but to risk dislodgement, seeing as their job tasks could not be
performed without a compressor. If the procedure that is in place for what to
do when faulty equipment is identified was followed appropriately, this issue
would have never occurred. Our procedure states that when an item is unfit
for use, it should be fit with a red tag notifying others of its risk, and also
notifying the mechanics that we employ that is in need of repair. As a
manager, there is fault resting with the fact that our process should allow for
backup equipment to be available to the workforce, therefore they do not feel
compelled to take unnecessary risks. Going forward, we have corrected the
issue and have re-established policy and procedure to account for possible
scenarios like this one.