Estimators / Cost Engineers / Quantity Surveyor’s Site Visit Checklist
SITE VISIT OBSERVATIONS: (Take notes, sketches, photographs & videos if possible)
- Site access/need for temporary road & the upkeep & eventual removal.
- Distance from train stations, and airports check on local hotel availability & costs.
- Review any demolition/equipment relocation issues associated with the project.
- Obstructions / overhead issues that curtail the use of cranes & large construction-related items.
- Site features, sloping site / in a congested area, open field / flat wooded / need for cut & fill.
- Find out where stone quarry, engineered fill & hardcore can be obtained.
- Excavation requirements / Contaminated soil disposal.
- Is there a need for a good point system for rock excavation or a high water table?
- Offsite tip requirements/tip fees/distance to tip.
- Available utilities – will temporary water/gas/heat/electricity utilities be required?
- Need for construction permits.
- Need for concrete batch plant & concrete testing requirements.
- Material storage laydown areas.
- Site fabrication facilities.
- Temporary offices/toilets/change rooms/cleaning services.
- Site office computers, communications, copy machines, rental cars & foreman trucks.
- Site warehouses & locations.
- Temporary parking area requirements.
- Need for busing of workers to work area.
- Camps for workers & messing facilities.
- Temporary & permanent fencing.
- Security issues/guards / TWIX badges/card swipes.
- Safety equipment issues, nets, barricades, signs, hard hats, safety shoes, masks, earplugs, goggles, etc.
- Small tools / Consumables / Grease / Gas bottles / Scaffolding requirements.
- Working in an existing plant/facility requires “hot” work permits and breathing apparatus.
- Maintenance of construction equipment/fueling, greasing & associated costs.
- Plant hire / Construction Equipment / Mob – De-Mob Costs.
- Need for shutdowns & tie-ins.
- Will any overtime, or shift work be required?
- Is there a need for a fire watch?
- What are the consequences of local B&O taxes, VAT, Sales Taxes / GST?
- Weekly & final site cleanup requirements, rental of skips.
- Winter working issues, snow removal, heated water for concrete, gas salamanders, need of tarpaulins.
- Is alcohol/drug testing/worker background check needed?
- Welder testing/qualifications requirements.
- Will Union / Nonunion / Merit Shop labor be used?
- Productivity of the workforce, tight/confined workspaces.
- Use of offsite pipe fabrication & modules on the project.
- Current market conditions, is there a lot of construction activity in the area? Availability of skilled workers?
- Need for per diem to attract labor to the job site.
- Need of weather protection clothing.
- Protection of the completed work.
- Interview the Chamber of Business, Local Unions, Sub Contractors, Local suppliers & plant hire companies on the current business climate.
- Obtain names & addresses of local hospitals, doctors, banks, law firms, engineering & testing firms.
- Obtain local phone book / Yellow Pages for future reference.
