ABSTRACT

By its nature, the nuclear construction industry can be complex, challenging and fraught with risk and uncertainty. For the Clerk of Works, this will bring added pressure, and the responsibility of ensuring that high levels of quality control are reached in a timely and consistent fashion. The traditional duties of a Clerk of Works/construction inspector still apply on nuclear projects acting with ability, integrity and vigilance but the way reporting techniques are communicated may differ from project to project. Importantly, reporting techniques need to be instantaneous, and both the contractor and the Clerk of Works should be 100 per cent conversant, confident and knowledgeable of reporting procedures prior to works commencing. The Clerk of Works/quality control team must develop a specialist bespoke reporting system that is fast, efficient and responsive to urgent requests for inspections of work. With estimated numbers of 500-plus personnel on a typical nuclear project, it is imperative that reporting procedures are monitored on a daily basis.