CPB Contractors
0 opportunities
Australia
Stephanie Raad
Civil Engineer
My name is Stephanie Raad and I am a Civil Engineer on Northwest Rapid Transit (NRT), stage one of Sydney Metro and Australia’s largest public transport project. I am the newest addition to the civil team at Bella Vista Station where I am involved in a range of civil disciplines including earthworks, underground services, roadworks, landscaping and civil structures.
A Day with Stephanie Raad
5.45 AM
The morning rush.
The 5.45 am alarm rings and I race to hit the snooze button, five minutes pass and the 5.50 am alarm rings, time to get up. I spend 20 minutes trying to make myself look presentable before quickly fixing my bed, running through the kitchen to grab my lunch and straight out the door. Fortunately, my drive to work is reasonably short, I jam to some of my favourite hits on my way.
6.45 AM
Pre-start.
Every morning the entire project team at Bella Vista, including sub-contractors meet for a brief meeting which we refer to as ‘Pre-start’. Typically, the supervisors will run through each work groups planned activities for the day, discuss what went well and not so well the day before, any safety concerns and any critical risks. I use this opportunity to familiarise myself with any changes onsite.
7.00 AM
Coffee on the run.
Like clockwork, every morning at 7.00 am I line up at the site café for my caffeine hit. Whilst I devour each sip, I check my schedule for the day including meetings, inspections and deadlines.
7.30 AM
Anything goes.
Once I’ve had my caffeine hit it’s time to officially start my day. First thing I do is go for a walk onsite, this typically gives me an understanding of what the rest of my day will entail. On my way I stop for a quick chat with several work groups, including the drainage crew, street light crew, landscapers and earthworks crews. We usually discuss any issues or concerns and it gives me an opportunity to inspect their work.
10.30 AM
Intimate whiteboard meeting.
Every morning the civil team gather for a brief meeting to discuss daily activities, available resources, weekly program and potential issues. This morning, it was my turn to chair the meeting. I often use this as an opportunity to further develop my skills in leadership and public speaking. Once the meeting is over I return to my desk and action any tasks which came about.
This morning we received confirmation that a paving package was awarded to a sub-contractor, this package was then allocated to me. This opportunity gives me a greater sense of responsibility and ownership. I spent most of the morning familiarizing myself with the relevant drawings and specifications which allows me to procure resources and carry out quality requirements.
12.30 PM
Lunchtime.
By lunchtime, my stomach is singing and I am keen to refuel. My homemade lunches are typically inspired by healthy food blogs that entice my culinary skills. Today’s lunch consists of roast vegetables, beans, nuts and chicken served with a side of Greek yogurt. Taking a break is so important to me as it gives me a chance to unwind, catch up on my non-work related errands and increases my productivity in the afternoon.
1.30 PM
Where has the day gone?
Lunchtime is over and I’m back at it, its 2 pm and I am heading to site to witness a Benkelman Beam Test along with a Geotechnical Engineer, an independent certifier and a few supervisors. This test will determine the amount of deflection experienced by a pavement under a standard wheel load and tyre pressure. Clipboard in hand, my role is to witness the test and record results.
On my way back to the site office, I stop to chat with an earthworks crew to ensure they are working under an Excavation and Trenching Permit. The permit identifies any underground services within a work area and ensures the work crew are familiar with them. The permit is an administrative task to minimize the risk of damaging underground services or causing harm to the workers. Advocating safety is a key part of my role and one that I take very seriously.
I return to my desk to find dockets and tasks in my in-tray and several unread emails. I spend the next few hours completing my administrative tasks and before I know it, it is 6 pm and my mind is starting to dwindle. Before my day can come to an end, it is important I confirm my inspections for the following day and check all outstanding tasks are complete, this ensures a fresh start to tomorrow morning. I collaborate with the rest of the team, write up my list of priorities for the next few days, and I am off.
6.30 PM
Some balance.
Maintaining a work-life balance is really important to me, it allows me to maintain good mental health, be a more rounded individual and it can also improve my efficiency. After a long day, I put on my training gear, tie my laces and I head to the gym for some intense cardio and some lightweights. This allows me to put work behind me and carry on with life outside of the office. After my session I head home eager for a home cooked meal, a warm shower and a hot cup of tea ready to do it all over again tomorrow. Good night!
Prue Townsend-Webb
Graduate Civil Engineer, CPB Contractors
Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours), UQ 2020
My name is Prue Townsend-Webb and I’m a graduate civil engineer working with CPB Contractors on the Joy Baluch AM Bridge Duplication project in Port Augusta, a regional town north of Adelaide, South Australia. I am a member of the structures team that is responsible for the refurbishment and upgrade of the 550-metre bridge, which spans the Upper Spencer Gulf.
A Day with Prue Townsend-Webb
6:00am
Rise and shine
My alarm rings and I’m up out of bed. After a quick change into my PPE, I take a moment to watch the news as I eat some avocado on toast. With a bit of time spent getting ready and packing some snacks, I’m out the door by 6:45am.
7:00am
Pre-start
One of the fantastic things about working on this regional project is the short commute - by 6:55am, I’m at my desk, preparing for a busy day ahead! At 7:00am, I head outside to join my peers and the workforce for our pre-start meeting.
At pre-start, the site supervisor briefs the group on safety expectations, weather considerations, upcoming inspections and planned works for the day. Last but not least, a set of stretches are performed by the labourers to ready their bodies for a big day of physical work. We might spend a fair amount of our day in the office but that doesn’t mean engineers don’t join in for a stretch or two!
7:30am
Site walk
At this stage of the project, a concrete pour is scheduled almost every morning. The original footpath and kerb of the bridge has been removed and we are now adding reinforced concrete to either side of the deck to strengthen it before precast concrete barriers are installed. As a site engineer, it is my job to ensure the wet concrete meets the requirements of the specifications before it is placed. I check the concrete mix design and batch time while the accredited concrete tester undertakes a slump test and measures the temperature.
Once the concrete pour is underway, I complete a walk along the full length of the bridge deck. During this, I note any progress from the day before, conduct spot checks on the quality of completed work and undertake safety inspections using an app implemented by my company.
9:00am
Desk work
Settled back at my desk with a coffee, it’s time to review my to-do list, check my emails and prepare for upcoming meetings. One of the tasks I frequently undertake is sending Requests for Information (aka RFIs) to our design engineers. RFIs are required when the Issue for Construction (IFC) design drawings need additional information or when we require additional approvals to aid our construction activities. I enjoy sending RFIs, as they allow me the opportunity to use my engineering knowledge as well as my understanding of construction to achieve best-for-project outcomes.
10:00am
Planning time
Before any construction activity commences on site, a methodology must be developed and approved. Within CPB Contractors, this methodology is presented in a document called a work pack.
Today I commence writing the draft work pack for some upcoming structural steel installation works. Using my prior experience with this type of construction along with a written methodology specific to this project provided by the specialist subcontractor, I develop a step-by-step procedure detailing how the steel will be installed safely, to a high standard, on time and within budget.
Next, I pencil in a meeting for my team to meet with the subcontractor to finalise the methodology and agree on a commencement date.
12:00pm
Lunch outside
Our site offices are located within walking distance of the foreshore of the Spencer Gulf, a fantastic place for a lunch break. Some fellow engineers and I grab some yummy treats from a nearby food truck and sit down at the tables overlooking the water. We share stories from our day so far and have a good laugh or two!
1:00pm
Quality inspection
Straight back to it from lunch with an inspection requested by our subcontractor. Our quality assurance system is implemented through Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs), which contain hold points. Essentially, certain stages in the construction of an element cannot be continued until a qualified person has signed off on the ITP for that hold point.
Today, a pull-off test is being conducted using an adhesion test device to assess the strength of the bond between carbon fibre reinforced polymer laminate and an existing concrete beam. The laminate has been installed to strengthen the in-situ joint between two concrete beams and today’s pull-off test verifies the laminate is sufficiently bonded to the concrete. When the specified bond strength is achieved, I sign off the hold point and the workers can proceed with the anti-carbonisation coating of the laminate.
2:00pm
Daily coordination catch-up
At 2pm, all members of our site-based engineering, safety, environmental, quality assurance, community relations, site supervisory and project management teams gather in the office around the whiteboard for the daily coordination catch-up.
During this time, the team run through the planned works for tomorrow and discuss any items which need to be resolved or brought to the attention of the work crews in tomorrow’s pre-start meeting.
3:00pm
Weekly subcontractor meeting
Once a week, we have a meeting with our main marine subcontractor to discuss a multitude of topics, from safety requirements, material deliveries and upcoming works. These meetings help me to develop my soft skills such as communication, leadership and negotiation.
5:00pm
Exercise
All things going well, I try to get out the door as close to 5pm as possible. Working in the construction industry sometimes means working long hours, which makes it even more important to strive for work-life balance.
That being said, before I leave work each day, I take time to reflect on what I achieved during the day and plan out my tasks for the following day. This helps me to hit the ground running when the next morning rolls around!
I hurry back home to change into my exercise gear and grab a banana to boost my energy levels. I then jump back in the car and head across town to my CrossFit class. I really look forward to these classes and I find that getting daily exercise helps me feel good physically but also allows me to focus well at work the following day.
7:30pm
Wind down
Another thing I like to do is cook and tonight I’m making Vietnamese rice paper rolls. While I prepare the food, I chat away to my family or friends on FaceTime as we debrief our days.
A quick shower and then I’m in bed by 9pm, ready to wind down with the next episode of Gilmore Girls. If there’s time to spare, I might even get through a few pages of my current novel and then I’m off to get 8 hours of sleep and hit repeat for another busy but exciting day as a graduate engineer on site!
Lachlan McDonald
A Day with Lachlan McDonald
5.00am:
My alarm goes off and I slowly crawl out of bed and into the shower. I get dressed, make myself a coffee and grab my lunch (usually left-over dinner from the night before) and I’m out the door by 5.30am and on the road driving to work. My drive to work typically takes 20 to 30 mins depending on traffic.
6.00am
Attend the daily pre-start where the supervisor outlines the day’s activities for each work crew. I discuss with the work crews any risks involved with their activities and outline what controls can be put in place to mitigate those risks. There is a brief discussion on the activities that went well the previous shift and what didn’t go so well. This is also the time the work crews can familiarise themselves with everything else happening on-site and discuss any potential clashes on work fronts.
7.00am
Once site works are underway, I make my way back to my desk and start going through my emails. I also use this time to complete any tasks that I set myself the previous day. This usually consists of planning works for the week ahead and reviewing productivity of the previous shifts to see where we sit on what we had planned to do and what was achieved on-site.
10.00 am
Around this time, I get out on-site to see how works are tracking. I’ve never been someone who likes to sit at a desk all day, 5 days a week, so having a job where I can be on-site is perfect. I usually try and catch up with the supervisor to discuss how the works are going and if there’s anything I can support them with. Typically, this usually requires me ordering materials, coordinating works for the following shifts and resolving problems that arise on-site.
12.30 am
Lunch time comes around and I make my way to the kitchen to heat up my left-over dinner. Typically, most of us in the office eat lunch together at the tables in the kitchen. I enjoy this time because it give us a chance to bond and talk about things other than work. It’s a good chance to brag about how good the Western Bulldogs are, especially when they are winning!!
2.00 pm
At 2.00pm everyday, the engineers and supervisors all meet up in front of the whiteboard that displays work activities for the current and following week. Here we go through how the planned works are tracking and if we are meeting our goals for the day. We then run through the week ahead to see if there are any clashes on work fronts and with resources.
4.30 pm
As the day winds down and works begin to cease, I use this time to sit down at my desk and plan my next day. I go through what works we have planned for tomorrow and what tasks I need to complete for that day. I answer any last emails that I haven’t gotten the chance to see during the day. Then as 5pm comes along I pack my stuff up and call it a day.
6.00 pm
After work I head straight to the gym, blasting tunes the whole way to pump me up after a long day at work. Doing some form of exercise straight after work is essential to me to wind down from the day and clear my head.
7.30 pm
After a sweaty session at the gym, I finally make my way home for the day. I’ll cook up some dinner, making sure I cook enough for lunch the next day. Once I finished eating and cleaned up I go have a shower and get ready for bed. I usually aim to be in bed by 9.00 to give me enough sleep to ensure I don’t wake up too tired the following morning. Before I call it a night I tend to read for 15-30 minutes to relax and wind down before my head hits my pillow and its lights out before I repeat it all again.
Jamie Lim
Graduate Engineer , CPB Contractors
"An outstanding experience was the opportunity to bounce ideas off the Design Managers to understand the different challenges and solutions in the design and commercial space."
"It was great delivering the M6 because it will improve travel times in Southern Sydney whilst providing the local community with parklands and shared pedestrian & cyclist pathways."
"I had the opportunity to demonstrate leadership when I filled in the vacant Design Commercial Manager role to mentor, grow and develop with a female undergraduate engineer."
"My job has included working with Patrick Mok, Tunnel Design Manager, to deliver the design for the innovative hybrid diaphragm wall tunnels, which is a first in the Australian tunnelling scene."
"I’ve learned that opportunities are what you make of them. This approach empowered me to stand on the shoulders of giants on the M6."
Chris Davis
Graduate Engineer, CPB Contractors
"An outstanding experience was completing the installation of the overpass at Fairfield Station. It was a time-consuming process, involving obtaining permits for the lift, but the satisfaction was immense once it was successfully installed."
"It was great delivering the Fairfield Station because it will substantially enhance accessibility to public transport for all members of the community."
"I had the opportunity to demonstrate leadership when I was entrusted with leading the installation of 449 precast platform units at Roma Street Station."
"My job has included working with various 3D modelling software, specifically Revitzo, for conducting clash detection on the complete structural steel package at Roma Street Station."
"I've learned proficiency in various construction methods, overseeing construction crews, ensuring adherence to quality standards, honing communication skills through interactions with diverse stakeholders, sharpening problem-solving abilities, and mastering multiple digital programs."
Mia Deans
Sustainability Graduate ,CPB Contractors
"An outstanding experience was delivering a keynote speech at the Infrastructure Sustainability Conference. This really challenged me, and it was great to share my perspective."
"It has been great delivering the North East Link because this project will push the industry further towards decarbonization by piloting low carbon plant and materials."
"I had the opportunity to demonstrate leadership when I worked with the Construction Team to implement the Project’s first trial of an unapproved sustainable product."
"My job has included researching practical solutions to implement a circular economy by eliminating construction waste and circulating local resources at their highest value."
"While on the graduate program, I’ve learned that interpersonal skills are just as important as technical skills to drive change in the Infrastructure industry."