Civil Engineering November 2022 | Vol 30 No 10

32 November 2022 Civil Engineering received CETA-accredited training before commencing work, as well as in-service training carried out while employed on the project. Furthermore, ten youth were trained as part of the National Youth Service programme, receiving theoretical training followed by on-site practical training. The extensive training, both accredited and on-the-job practical training, has upskilled the community members who had benefited from these project initia- tives to enable future employment in the construction industry. The constant engagement with the local community over the duration of the project has also helped identify and realise various other corporate social development initiatives, which included the donation of computer equipment and soccer kits to a local football club. The Project Liaison Committee, on behalf of the local farmers, requested that the project team assist the local farmers in the area by donating the temporary shelters located in the site camp which were to be utilised for the sales of their local produce. The principal contractor agreed and, after rehabilitating the site camp, donated two shelters to the farmers in the community to promote their farming business. OHS & ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS The construction supervision team together with the principal contractor strived to ensure compliance in respect of both occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental matters over the construction duration. This included a significant change to the contract in re- spect of the contractor’s health and safety (H&S) obligations which had originally only included a part-time H&S officer at tender stage. Based on the nature of the project and legal obligations associated with the prerequisite work permits from the National Department of Labour, a full-time H&S officer was approved by the client and appointed by the principal contractor at project commencement. Despite the high OHS risks associated with the construction of a river bridge, such as deep excavations and working at heights, the H&S audits conducted over the duration of the project detailed minor findings such as first aid cases, however mitigating measures were always put in place to prevent future reoccurrences. The project’s approved environmental management programme (EMPr) detailed stringent environmental control measures associated with the construction of a bridge within a river course. An environ- mental control officer was appointed on the project to guide the project team in ensuring compliance over the construc- tion duration. During the design stage, the structural engineers had maximised the bridge deck spans to reduce the number of piers within the river course while still maintaining a balance with the feasibility of the superstructure. During construction an environmental challenge related to the construction of cofferdams for the piling and foundation construction within the river channel was identified. The EMPr set out compliance require- ments, such as that the river course was not to be completely dammed, dewatering restrictions, and mitigating measures to ensure the pile and foundation construc- tion was programmed during the “dry” season such as winter months to reduce the risks associated with flood damage. These requirements were adhered to and successfully completed in compliance with the EMPr, which was a milestone from an environmental perspective. At project completion, the site was re- habilitated with alien vegetation removed, and grassing and landscaping undertaken to ensure the project site was left in an environmentally acceptable condition. PROJECT OUTPUT VS PROJECT OUTCOME As engineers, there is always a sense of pride in realising the “output” of a design. A greater sense of accomplishment, how- ever, comes with seeing the “outcome” of a project, which contributes to the improve- ment of the quality of life in society. The job creation, targeted enterprise develop- ment as well as training and skills transfer initiatives implemented on projects such as the Msunduze River Bridge heighten this sense of accomplishment as they allow for the upliftment of local communities as well as development of small businesses, actively contributing to our empowerment and development as a nation. The old adage, “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, but If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime,” rings true through the successful comple- tion of projects like this one.  Targeted enterprise development formed a significant part of the project