Understanding the roles and responsibilities of all

parties involved in construction project

Chapter 6
The Resident’s Engineer’s Site Organization

Introduction
You should recall that when a promoter sees the need for a new civil
engineering project, he has to appoint two specialists to help him
achieve his goal: an engineer and a contractor. The engineer
undertakes the design of the project and the contractor undertakes
the construction.

The extent of professional service offered by the engineer is specified

in a agreement between him and the promoter. Generally the
engineer performs the feasibility study, designs the works, prepares
contract documents, arranges the contract and supervises
construction works.

The contractor tenders to construct the required works. As soon as

the contractor’s tender is accepted by the promoter, the engineer,
acting on behalf of the promoter, notifies the contractor of the
starting date of the contract. The contractor is then responsible for
the construction of permanent works and any necessary temporary
works. The engineer, in most cases, will again be appointed by the
promoter to undertake the contract administration and supervision
of works. The main reason for such an appointment is that the
engineer is familiar with the design details and the promoter’s
requirements.

According to the Conditions of Contract for Civil Engineering Works,

the engineer appoints a resident engineer (or engineer’s
representative) who will be effectively resident on site. The engineer
will delegate powers and duties to the resident engineer such as
assistant resident engineers, inspectors, works supervisors and so
forth are also needed so that an effective organization can be
established on site.

The Resident Engineer’s Site Organization

The size of the resident engineer’s site organization largely depends

on the extent and complexity of the works. Adequate site staff must
be maintained to ensure every part of the construction works is
under proper supervision. For a small job, an inspector of works and
a site clerk are sufficient to assist the resident engineer.

For a medium-size job, additional staff such as an assistant resident

engineer, a technical officer, a survey officer may be necessary. In
addition, a works supervisor may be needed to assist the inspector of
works. A secretary and a typist may replace the site clerk.

A typical site organization for a medium size job is shown in Fig. 2.1
For a large job, multi-disciplinary activities are involved and the
works are very often split into a number of parts which can be built
under different contracts. A senior resident engineer is usually
appointed to head the whole site organization. Each section of works
is then under the supervision of a resident engineer, supported by
inspectors and works supervisors and so on. In some cases, specialists
are required to reside on site depending on the nature of the works
and the site conditions. For instance, the inclusion of a geotechnical
engineer (or engineering geologist) in major underground
construction works, as in dam construction and tunneling, will
definitely be an advantage if not essential.

Fig. 2.2 shows and organization chart for a large project involving
tunneling and bridgeworks.
The Resident Engineer

The resident engineer is the chief person representing the engineer on

site. Usually he is a qualified engineer with appropriate academic
qualifications, proper professional training and adequate practical
experience to supervise the construction works.

Delegation of Power

The resident engineer’s responsibilities are delegated by the engineer.

The assumption of day-to-day site duties by the resident engineer
relieves the workload of the engineer, who can then concentrate on
more important matters to do with the project. Furthermore, it
provides training opportunities for the resident engineer since he can
obtain site experience which he cannot get from the design office.

Decisions made by the resident engineer have the same effect as if

made by the engineer himself. However, the engineer always has the
final judgment. He can reverse or change any of the resident
engineer’s decisions if the contractor or the promoter is not satisfied
with them.

The extent of delegation of the engineer’s power, and the duties of the
resident engineer are listed in an appointment letter. The contractor,
having been given a copy of the letter, is aware of the extent of the
resident engineer’s authority. This minimizes confusion in dealing
with matters on site.
The following is a typical letter illustrating the delegation of the
engineer’s powers to the resident engineer.

Dear Resident Engineer,

Delegation of Engineer’s Power

I hereby appoint you as Engineer’s Representative for the Contract of Site Formation
Works with effect form 1st January 1986.

In accordance with Clause 2(3) of the Conditions of contract for Civil engineering
Works, I delegate to you the power under the following clauses of the Conditions of
Contract:

Clause no. 4(5) Sub-letting

18 Contractor’s employees
19 Setting out
27 Contractor to give notice of injury
32 site diary and labour returns
34 facilities for other contractors
35 Clearance of the site on completion
41 Passes
42 Quality of materials, workmanship and tests
43 access to the site and places of manufacture
45 Uncovering and making openings
46 Removal of unsatisfactory material and work
51 Rate of progress
56 Execution of work or repair
58 Investigation defects
59 Bills of quantity and measurement
73 Removal of constructional plant, temporary buildings and materials
74 Hired and hire-purchased constructional plant

Yours sincerely,

The engineer
c.c. The Contractor
Duties of the Resident Engineer

The main duty of the resident engineer is to see and check that the
materials used, the workmanship employed and the works
constructed by the contractor are in accordance with the
specification and conditions of the contract. In addition, he has to
ensure that the contractor has carried out the obligations required in
the contract.

The actual extent of the resident engineer’s duty of course varies

depending on the type of contract. In general the main duties are
grouped into the following sections:

(i) Administration

to organize and assign duties to site staff and to ensure that all
construction works are properly supervised.

(ii) Works

(a) to supervise the construction of permanent works to the

correct lines and levels and other necessary temporary
works;

(b) to perform tests so as to ensure that the raw materials and

the final product comply with specifications, both on site and
at the place of manufacture;

(c) to watch out for defected works and to ensure that

appropriate remedial actions are proposed an taken by the
contractor;

(d) to examine the construction methods proposed by the

contractor;

(e) to check the design of temporary works;

 (f) to redesign the works when it is necessary; and

(g) to check if sufficient materials of suitable quality are ordered

and delivered to the site at the right times.

(iii) assessment and payment

(a) to assess and finally agree with the contractor on the

quantity of work which is completed to specifications; and

(b) to check the dayworks, materials, etc. on site, so that based

on the resident engineer’s recommendation, the engineer
can certify payments.

(iv) Records

(a) to keep a diary recording each stage of the history of

construction and events on site such as visitors, accidents,
stop of works, etc;

(b) to prepare progress reports and make comparisons with the

original programme,

(c) to keep records of all tests and measurements; and

(d) to prepare ‘as constructed’ drawings showing details of

works completed.

Most of the resident engineer’s normal routine work can e carried

out by his subordinates. However, there are specific tasks which he
has to perform such as discussing future works with the contractor
and acting as a channel for claims in case of disputes.
The Role of the Resident Engineer

The resident engineer is an agent of the engineer. He may be and

engineer seconded from the engineer’s office or may be recruited
from an outside firm. In some cases he may be employed and paid by
the promoter. However, regardless of his background, he should
always be responsible to the engineer since his decisions may affect
the responsibilities and obligations of the engineer.

Whenever there is any problem or dispute on site between the

promoter and the contractor, the resident engineer must act
impartially. Neither the promoter’s, nor the contractor’s opinion
should influence the resident engineer’s decision. Instead, the basis of
his judgement should stem from his professional knowledge.

Assistant Resident Engineers

Assistant resident engineers are assistants to the resident engineer in

carrying out normal day-to-day business. Generally they are young,
academically qualified people having less working experience than
the resident engineer.

Most of the assistant resident engineer’s duties are concerned with

document preparation. This includes:

1) report writing;
2) re-designing of minor works;
3) recording of actual progress’s
4) tests recording’
5) measurement of quantities; and
6) keeping survey records with the assistance of the survey
officer.

Nowadays, in a large job, a quantity surveyor is usually appointed to

take over all the quantity measurements and all other matters
relating to costs and payment.

The Inspector and the Works Supervisor

The inspector’s main duty is to check the materials and

workmanship provided by the contractor. In the past he was often a
tradesman who got promoted by acquiring knowledge and
experience of trades, materials and methods. Nowadays inspectors
require proper experience and technical training qualifications.

The essential requirement of a competent inspector, besides practical

experience and professional knowledge, is the ability to judge quality
and workmanship. This enables the inspector to advise the resident
engineer about the works to be undertaken based on the contractor’s
construction methods.

The main duties of an inspector include:

i) examining materials delivered to site;
ii) checking the workmanship; and
iii) keeping a daily report incorporating all details in connection
with the actual progress of the work.

The duty of a works supervisor is, by constant checking, to ensure

that the contractor’s staff are constructing the work as specified in
the contract by using the right amount of suitable materials. A works
supervisor should have a basic technical training qualification and
several years’ experience of detailed construction in a particular
activity; for example, concrete mixing and placing, earth filling,
compaction and so on.

A works supervisor, who is responsible to the inspector, should spend

most of his time outside the office observing and recording progress
and production on the spot and ensuring that the contractor’s
foreman gives proper instructions to the labourer.