20 Jul 2017

L2B Blog: Fresh ideas about airconditioning

by | posted in: General | 8

If you live in Durban like I do, you would know that living without air-conditioning or some sort of cooling system is absolute TORTURE!

In the extreme heat of summer, it can be quite tough to look and smell clean & fresh (TRA-LA-LA) all the time! There have been days where it felt like my makeup was literately melting off my face, not to mention the regular ‘sniff’ checks I needed to perform, not wanting to scare any potential subscribers away by looking like ‘The Crow!’

First, let’s go back in time:
One of the first A/C systems was invented by Willis Carrier in 1902 and was called the Ice Machine. It was developed to bring down the temperature and remove the humidity from the air.

 

 

Current time:
It’s been predicted by the Netherlands Environmental Agency, that by 2060 the amount of energy used worldwide in COOLING will overtake the energy used for HEATING.
As it stands, the United States uses as much energy to keep things COOL as the whole of the African Continent uses on EVERYTHING. Countries like India and China are fast catching up and by mid-century we will use more energy for cooling than heating!

 

 

But it’s not all “DOOM and GLOOM”

Since then, technology in A/C has improved and evolved dramatically. In 1992 conservation standards for manufacturers of central air conditioners and the heat pump were issued and in 2006 the energy SAVING from 2006 to 2035 is equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 72 million cars.
It has improved so much that the A/C today uses about 50% less energy that they did in 1990.

 

One of the ways to save not only on your electricity bill but also our planet, is a solution called: Ducted Reverse Cycle Air-Conditioning. It’s an Energy Efficient Solution for your home.
And because I had no clue what ” Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning” was before I did my research for this Blog, I think its a good idea to explain with a picture. 🙂

 

 

Ducted Reverse Cycle Air-Conditioning works through a fan that draws the hot air from your house and transfers it over a cold liquid called refrigerant. The air is then cooled and flows back throughout your house. The hot air that flows from the compressor evaporates. The compressor creates high-pressure gas and high-temperature gas. This gas is then pumped through to a heat exchanger that is located outside. Because the heat is able to escape, the refrigerant can then cool.

Benefits of this system:
* You have the option to either heat or cool a room
* It allows you to control the temperature from a control panel
* Sensors in different rooms ensure the correct temperature is maintained
* Comes with a zoning function option, allowing you a selection of different air flow and temperatures for different rooms

 

Very impressive: The Fourleaf Estate residential development in Port Elizabeth is the VERY FIRST residential project in AFRICA to meet the Edge resource-efficiency standard and to receive an “Edge final certification” from Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA).
Click here to view details of this Project on L2B

 

If you are going to “FLIP that SWITCH”, herewith are some pointers on SAVING ENERGY:

Generally, the best temperature to set your A/C unit is around 24-25°C.
You can save considerably on the amount of energy used for each 1°c of heating or cooling that you do without. Should it be 35°C outside, by setting the temperature around 25, instead of 22, you could save a significant amount of energy.

 

And for those of us that DON’T have the LUXURY of air-conditioning, herewith some suggestions to keep cool:

* Shade your windows in summer with curtains, shutters and blinds that can reduce heat absorption by up to 80%.

* Create more shade outside of your house with awnings and trees.

* Hack a fan.

* Set your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise. Some ceiling fans even come with a remote control.

* Let the night air in by keeping windows open.

* Focus on your body temperature by hydrating with cold drinks.

* Install UV film on your windows to reduce heat and glare.

* And lastly, instead of cooking indoors, in true South African style, “NOU GAAN ONS BRAAI!”

 

So, regardless if you want to CRANK UP the temperature during the cold winter months or DOWN in summer, consider that WE ONLY HAVE:

 

 

 

 

Sources:

One Home

Ducted reserve cycle

Gorrie Ice Machine

Building with no Air Conditioning

The Crow

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/oct/26/cold-economy-cop21-global-warming-carbon-emissions

http://www.bizcommunity.com/PDF/PDF.aspx?l=196&c=640&ct=1&ci=162669

https://energy.gov/articles/history-air-conditioning

http://www.hhaircon.com.au/general-news/ducted-reverse-cycle-air-conditioning-energy-efficient-solution-home.php

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.za/entry/ways-to-cool-your-home_n_5516182

About Wendy De Wet

I joined Leads 2 Business as an Account Executive in July 2011 and was part of the dynamic sales team in JHB for 2 years. I relocated to the beautiful city of Durban in 2013 and absolutely love KZN. I am very proud to be part of the L2B family and Legacy!

6 Jul 2017

L2B Blog: Epic Air Conditioning Fails

by | posted in: General | 0

As we all know the winter season can be a chilly “bordering on freezing” climate that has its ups and downs, the last thing we need to be worrying about is our air conditioning unit failing on us.

Being office bound, we need to ensure ourselves as well as our colleagues are comfortable in order to create a smooth working environment. So I have emphasized on the most common air conditioning problems that we could experience and a solution to the problem.

   

PROBLEMS / SOLUTIONS:

  • Having an air-conditioning unit on, whether it be at your office or at home, you should ensure that all doors and windows are closed in order for the air-conditioning unit to operate to its full potential.
  • Lack of maintenance on your air conditioning unit can result in permanent damage to your unit. You should ensure that you hire the correct air-conditioning technicians to service and maintain these units. Correct maintenance can ensure less chance of a breakdown. Ensure that you get your air-conditioning units serviced on a regular basis to ensure that dirt is removed off the compressor so that your unit does not fail prematurely.
  • Poor installation of your air-conditioning unit can result in the lack of air-flow and leaking ducts (Piping that allows for distribution of airflow). Having a lack of air flow will be established immediately as you will not experience the satisfaction of having your air-conditioning unit switched on. Always ensure that you hire an accredited company that will be installing your units as poor installation can give you endless problems which may result in you having to replace your air-conditioning unit.
  • If you are experiencing a leaking air-conditioning unit, this could be from the lack of or too much refrigerant within your unit. Please take note that if you conclude that the refrigerant is the problem, do not attempt to just fill it up or release some refrigerant as the manufacturer of the air-conditioning unit specifies exactly the required amount of refrigerant that should be in the unit in order for it to operate correctly.
  • Finally, if you have a room or office air-conditioning unit and it is humid outside, on a regular basis check that your condensate drain is draining correctly and there are no objects that are blocking the drainage, this can also affect the running of your system.
   

 

TIPS:

  • Ensure you hire the correct team in order to keep your air-conditioning units in great condition.
  • Do not be left stranded in the cold or the heat due to air-conditioning units that have failed!!

 

Sources

https://energy.gov/energysaver/common-air-conditioner-problems

https://www.progressgroup.co.za/air-conditioner-problems-take-care/

http://www.labourguide.co.za/up-to-date-safety-news/2185-managing-office-temperature

Airconditioning picture

Thinking tip picture

Speech bubble picture

Angry face emoji

About Ashlee Hennessy

I am Ashlee Kelly and I have been with Leads 2 Business for a year and 3 months. Although new to the Company I have been in the construction industry for 4 Years. My passion is working with clients and ensuring that they grow their business in the right direction by getting involved in projects and tenders we can offer. I am a very out-going person with many characteristics, and love to help when a client needs any assistance.

29 Jun 2017

L2B Blog: Visions of the future from the architectural past

by | posted in: Construction Chat | 0

Visions of the future from the architectural past

When you look at a building, what do you see? I see bricks, some windows, a door or two, oh, and we can’t forget the roof. I am sure that is pretty much what everyone else sees. But when I was given the task of writing this blog, I couldn’t find anything on visions of the future from Architectures past besides the thoughts and visions of what the future might look like with flying cars and buildings in the air floating around (Ok, maybe not to that extent, but you get the idea). With a pounding headache and the confusion lingering, I was forced to take a deeper look into what was handed to me.

A light bulb appeared and low and behold, bam! The idea popped into my mind. I started to think a little out of the box. As the searching started I was amazed at what I discovered, who knew that there is more to a building than just bricks, windows, doors and a roof. Confused? Let me shed some light…

When you look at a building there is more than what the eye can see. There is a past, a story to be told. If I had to write about each and every building, we might be dealing with the longest blog known. Instead I have isolated 3 buildings to tell their story…

 

1. The Dresden Fraunkirche ( Church of the Lady)

The Dresden Fraunkirche is a Lutheran church in Dresden, capital state of Saxony, Germany, first built in the 11th century in a Romanesque style. The first Frauenkirche was torn down in 1727 and replaced by a new and larger church. The church’s most distinctive feature was its unconventional 96m high dome, called ‘die Steinerne Glocke’ or “Stone Bell”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Frauenkirche, between 1860 and 1890)

 

The destruction of the Frauenkirche took place on 13 February 1945, when Anglo-American allied forces began the bombing of Dresden. The church withstood these attacks for two days and nights and held long enough for the evacuation of 300 people who had sought shelter in the church. The dome finally collapsed on 15 February. The pillars exploded and the outer walls shattered and nearly 6 000 tons of stone plunged to earth.

 

During the last months of World War II, residents expressed the desire to rebuild the church, however reconstruction came to a halt due to political circumstances in East Germany. Due to the continuing decay of the ruins, Dresden leaders decided in 1985 to rebuild the Church of Our Lady. The project gathered momentum as hundreds of architects, art historians and engineers sorted through the thousands of stones, identifying and labelling each for reuse in the new structure.

 

Reconstruction proceeded in February 1992 and a rubble-sorting ceremony started the event in January 1993 under the direction of architect and engineer Eberhard Burger. The foundation stone was laid in 1995 and stabilised in 1995. In 1996 the crypt was completed followed by the inner cupola in 2000. The exterior was completed by 2004 and the exterior painted in 2005. The intensive efforts to rebuild this landmark were completed in 2005, one year earlier as planned and in time for the 800-year anniversary in 2006.

(Frauenkirche at night)

 

2. The Reichstag Building

The Reichstag building is a historic edifice in Berlin, Germany which was constructed in 1871 to house the Imperial Diet of the General Empire.

(Reichstag Building, August 1932)

 

The building was opened in 1894 and housed the Diet until 1933, when it was severely damaged after it was set on fire. The building fell into disuse after the World War II.

(Reichstag, postwar. June 1945)

 

The ruined building was made safe against the elements and partially refurbished in the 1960s. Only after the German reunification on 3 October 1990, did the Reichstag undergo reconstruction led by Architect Norman Foster

During reconstruction, the building was almost completely stripped, taking out everything except the outer walls. Respect to the historic aspects was one of the conditions stipulated to the architects so that traces of historical events were to be retained in visible state.

Reconstruction was completed in 1999 and is the second most visited attraction in Germany. The building houses a huge glass dome that was erected on the roof as a gesture to the original 1894 cupola.

3. Last but not least, the demise of the next buildings, shattered America and brought the world to a standstill… the World Trade Centre (The Twin Towers)

At the time of their completion the Twin Towers were the tallest buildings in the world. On 20 September 1962, the Port Authority announced the selection of Minoru Yamasaki as lead architect and Emery Roth & Sons as associate architects. The original plan was for the towers to only be 80 stories tall, however, to meet the requirements of the Port Authority to have 10 000 000 square feet of office space, towers were eventually 110 stories tall. Demolition work began on 21 March 1966 to clear thirteen square blocks of low rise buildings. Groundbreaking took place on 5 August 1966. On 4 April 1973 the Twin Towers opened.

 

About 50 000 people worked in the towers with approximately 200 000 additional visitors passing through on a typical weekday. On 11 September 2001, the world came to a standstill when terrorists hijacked American Airlines and deliberately crashed into both the towers. It was estimated that approximately 17 400 occupants were in the towers at the time of the attacks and 2 977 people died as a result.

 

During the following years, plans were created for the reconstruction of the World Trade Centre which is now known as the World Trade Centre Memorial and Museum. They commemorate all the victims that were killed on 11 September 2011, including the names of 6 people who were killed in the World Trade Centre bombings in 1993. Construction began in August 2006 and despite many delays, the opening of the memorial took place on 12 September 2011, one day after the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. The names of the victims are inscribed on 76 bronze plates attached to the walls of the memorial pools. Below is the transcript of ‘The Memorial Mission’:

 

‘The Memorial Mission’

‘Remember and honour the thousands of innocent men, women, and children murdered by terrorists in the horrific attacks of February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001.

Respect this place made sacred through tragic loss.

Recognise the endurance of those who survived, the courage of those who risked their lives to save others, and the compassion of all who supported us in our darkest hours.

May the lives remembered, the deeds recognised, and the spirit reawakened be eternal beacons, which reaffirm respect for life, strengthen our resolve to preserve freedom, and inspire an end to hatred, ignorance and intolerance.’

 

 

With a new outlook on buildings, always remember that just like each and every one of us, we all have a story to tell. A past, a present and a future.

 

“THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ANY BUILDING LIES IN ITS ABILITY TO BOTH EVOKE HISTORY AND MOVE FORWARD.”— RYUKO SOLOMON

 

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dresden_Frauenkirche
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichstag_building
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichstag_dome
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Center_(1973%E2%80%932001)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_September_11_Memorial_%26_Museum

 

Did you Know #DYK: Project Life Cycle Explained

About Nadine Vermeulen

I started working at Leads 2 Business in October 2014 in the Leads 2 Quotes Department. I managed all the Daily Tender Bill Requests and followed up on BoQ's for our Daily Tender Subscribers. In 2017, I was promoted to L2Q Assistant and now work with Bill of Quantities for Contractors. 🙂

22 Jun 2017

L2B Blog: Exploring New Ideas in the Role of the Project Manager

by | posted in: Construction Chat, General | 0

Exploring New Ideas in the Role of the Project Manager

If you are involved in the construction industry you have most likely come into contact with a Project Manager (hereafter referred to as a PM) or heard of one mentioned in the process of developments and particularly larger developments.

Certainly in Leads 2 Business’ Projects Department PM’s are one of the most common professionals we deal with. The reason for this, is their role within construction projects.

So, what does a PM actually do? It would seem rather obvious right, they manage the project? But nothing is ever as simple as it seems. PM’s actually do a whole host of duties.

Some of which include: planning, organising, controlling, communicating, executing, reports, programs, advice, analysis, resource control, health and safety, budgets, administration and handover.

All of these duties are done ensure that the project runs successfully thus lowering the risks while meeting all of the objectives timeously to ensure completion which effects the profitability of the project.

So, when do new ideas come into the picture? What new ideas would PM’s have to explore in todays construction industry?

To be honest, I was at a loss when pondering this question, after all I’m not a PM and it’s not a role one easily assumes to answer. So I emailed a few PM’s to get some feedback on ideas that they might want to put out there… but still no luck, probably snowed under with work given our economic environment. I scoured the Internet and there didn’t seem to be any publications or news out there for new ideas when it comes to PM’s until I happened on some LinkedIn Posts. Phew!

This may not be a new idea but how about technology, either using existing tech and / or molding it to PM’s requirements, partnering with IT and creating PM specific tech or even sharing your tech tricks with other PM’s? For example: Ahmed H. Emam, PMP writes “Detect and Fix Dangling Activities in Time Schedule using Excel Macro.” https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/detect-fix-dangling-activities-time-schedule-using-excel-pmp

Using tech could make PM’s jobs easier but some seem to think that PM’s might be replaced in the future by Tech/Bots. As Oliver Yarbrough, M.S., PMP illustrates in “Can a Robot Do Your Job? Here’s “How Project Managers Can Survive a Takeover.” https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/can-robot-do-your-job-heres-how-project-managers-oliver

There are some things that tech, no matter how advanced it gets, cannot replace. Oliver suggests to focus on the following skills in order to stand out: “Leadership, Diplomacy, Negotiating, Public Speaking, Emotional Intelligence, Communication (verbal and nonverbal)” and instead of fighting tech, work with it to enhance your service delivery.

Another thought also came to mind: what is one of the key aspects that I think of when I think of a PM? It would have to be communication. So, what new idea would make communication more effective? What about a platform where all the schedules, notes, admin, planning and analysis can be seen by all the professionals involved in a specific project? Where each person can make notes or get alerts thus avoiding confusion, emails back and forth, potential loss of material, and saving time, something like Google Sheets for PM’s? Does this already exist? It’s possible… calling all PM’s out there, let us know! Perhaps I need to patent this idea.

After all, we all know that communication is key whether you are a PM or not. Another useful tool to facilitate communication and interaction between professionals and all other contacts which fall within the scope of projects is to use L2B (Leads 2 Business). If you are looking to get involved in the different aspects of construction, information is our business. We encourage communication, new ideas and growth in order to build and establish business.

If any of the above sparks your interest leave a Comment below or or Contact me on SashaA@L2B.co.za

Source:

http://profica.com/Project-Management

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/detect-fix-dangling-activities-time-schedule-using-excel-pmp?trk=v-feed&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_search_srp_content%3B6Q7NbKiCNqOpFrfh9U5jyg%3D%3D

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/can-robot-do-your-job-heres-how-project-managers-oliver?trk=v-feed&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_search_srp_content%3Brgd4BBE3JHWCHOXLUg24dg%3D%3D

 

 

About Sasha Anderson

Millennial Mom + wife living the hash-tag life. Reach out if you want to talk: L2B, social media, construction, technology, marriage, parenting, popular culture and travel. Remember: If You Fail - Fail Forward

15 Jun 2017

L2B Blog: 10 (or 11) tips for recruiting great Project Managers

by | posted in: General, Life Lessons | 0

10 (or 11) tips for recruiting great Project Managers

There are many steps that need to be taken when a new position at your firm has opened.

  1. Detailed job description needs to be indicated
  2. Advertising of the position
  3. Finally Interviewing the candidates….. this is what my blog is going to focus on.

Interviewing many individuals for a new position can be hectic and some may find this stressful. It’s not only the questions you have to put together for the interview, but also other aspects you would need to consider before hiring any particular person.

There are questions you would need to ask the interviewee and questions you would need to ask (and answer) yourself!

Interviewing people is not something that I do personally. I myself am an employee of Leads 2 Business, hiring or firing is not part of what I do and I can’t imagine that this is easy. This is the responsibility of our HR manager, Director and ultimately the CEO’s decision – scary I know… but they know what they are looking for in a person.

 

Possible questions you as an interviewer would need to ask (and answer) yourself could be:

  1. Do I like this person? Well that’s rather rude! First impressions do however count though and judging is something we as humans do and rightfully so.
  2. Would they “fit in” and get along with the other staff or team? Can they delegate? Work as a team? And more importantly, do they love dogs?? – how else are we meant to have conversations about things we have in common?
  3. Are they good at decision making – would they make the right choice for your company and for the success of the project?
  4. Can you trust them? (who knows? we have only just met them. Susan could be a wonderful candidate or a horrible one).

Source

 

Your answers are all based on how you perceive the person, the ‘feel’ you get from them and it’s very difficult as you can only discover so much about a person during this short interview. It’s like judging, using those short 30 minutes you have with them, this is quite daunting as the person being interviewed might know this.

There are many questions you can ask in an interview, but the “right ones” can help shed the light on the persons behaviour and beliefs and answer some of the questions above that we set out for ourselves.

There are tons of books with standard or possible interview questions and answers. People buy these, or read them online and the whole interview then feels rehearsed as they have memorised the answers.

This is quite annoying and not to mention “cheating” in a way LOL.. because they are telling you what you want to hear and acing the interview and who knows what they are really like behind those false statements that they have spent hours in front of the mirror rehearsing? Is that what Susan really believes or is she just saying what the book suggested? Maybe she hates dogs.. Gasp…shock and horror!! We will never know. But there is a glimmer of hope because below are a few questions directed at Project Manager interviews that are more personal and a bit more direct so that we can find out if this is the correct person for the job, based on their own experiences.

 

10 Questions when interviewing for a Project Manager position:

 

1. Time Management – As a project manager, what do you spend most of your time doing each day?

Acceptable answers would depend on the work environment and the position. If they see themselves spending time with clients and out on the road then this is wonderful if you are looking for someone who does that. A project manager visits clients most days of the week.

If they see themselves as stuck in front of a computer all day – great! If this is the type of PM you are looking for.

Any answer could be suitable and it’s a good idea to ask what they do with their time?

But there are several wrong answers – “Twitter, Facebook, Whatsapp and LinkedIn” I believe would not be the best answer and not a good idea to mention. Nobody wants to hear that you are on social media all day uploading selfies at your new desk with an #AwesomeCupOfCoffee (which I might add that we are lucky enough to enjoy at our offices) The coffee – not the selfies:)

 

Source

 

2. Flexibility – What type of Projects do you not like?

Project managers work on a lot of projects and most of these projects are allocated to them, not chosen by them, so they could be stuck with a project that they are not really into.

A bad answer here would be if they state outright that they “do not work on Road Projects”, that’s a bold and specific statement. How about trying, “I prefer retail and residential projects and not so much the road and civil projects. But I won’t say no to these. “Well done!! – 10 points – That my friend, was a wonderful answer, you’ve shown what you like and don’t like and your flexibility. Gold Star!!

Source

 

3. Rating – Rate yourself as a project manager and your job / career from 1- 10?

Oooh now this could be interesting. This should be able to show you how the person perceives themselves and their career. How valuable they feel and if this is their career choice or if they might be using it as a stepping stone until they find “something better.” Do they enjoy being a project manager and is this their career that they have worked towards and are happy with?

Source

Once they have chosen a rating, ask them why? Why did Susan choose 2 out of 10? Go ahead.. Ask her…
“Because I’m currently studying to be an art teacher and I’ve decided that being a project manager is not what I want to do”. And then you might think to yourself (and not say out loud) with a straight face while looking at her, “Well then what are you doing here Susan? Honestly…”. Next question…

 

4. Role – What is the most important role you have as a Project Manager?

They should be able to list the duties of a project manager and tell you what they see as a priority. This will give you an indication of what they prioritise and if they will fit in with the team / staff.

Susan – “Well I’ll be like the boss, so it’s just sitting around telling the team what to do really!” Is it Susan? Really? I don’t think so. Yes, you delegate as a project manager and assist the team and work as a team, but you don’t yell at John to go get the equipment and then kick your feet up on a stool and browse Facebook while you wait. No. Next…

Source

5. Delegating – Have there been any incidences where you did not delegate? What was the result / what happened?

This gives the person a chance to be honest and tell you about an incident where things did not go according to plan. How they were able to rectify the problem or solve the issue at hand.

Was this a once off occurrence or did happen again? Did they learn from their mistake and learn how to prevent this from happening in future projects? Delegation is a key duty as I mentioned in my last “Did You Know – Project manager duties” that was published a few days ago and yes, I agree, it does seem like I write a lot 😉

You want to hire a project manager that can handle work overload and knows how to delegate!

“If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. This is why I do everything myself and never delegate” – This would be another incorrect answer and clearly not someone we are looking for.

 

6. Job Criteria – What is this person looking for in a job? (is it the money, work experience or lifetime career, travelling abroad which is much needed time away from the kids??) – kidding.

We ask this to see what a person is looking for in a job, their reasoning for applying for particular jobs. Are they applying for this position to further their project management career? Is it the big brand or name of the company that attracted them? Is it the money?

Hopefully, the person would say that they have always wanted to work for the company (with stars in their eyes) and that they could learn a lot from the company as well as teach or give a lot back

If they say “I’m in it for the money”– this could be seen as bad and maybe even good. Some people are money hungry and that may not be bad because they may be willing to work harder for more money – but this isn’t always true. They might also jump from job to job depending what the salary is.

I just think it would be better to have someone that is absolutely super keen to work for your company and knows a lot about it.

Source

 

7. Problem solving techniques – do they have any? What are they?

Here they get a chance to brag about their awesome skills as a project manager or lack thereof.. Or maybe they carry on and on about how awesome they are, and how big their ego is and how they can do anything by themselves because they are Superman and say “Don’t worry I got this” – a lot.That’s awesome but we are not looking for the son of Krypton Susan!!

Source

 

8. Authority and Respect – How do you work with others more senior than you such as managers?

“I don’t bother them because I know what I’m doing and don’t need advice.”Wrong again Susan. You need to keep them up to date with the project and how its progressing. If the time line is being met and everything is running smoothly and still on track to be a successful project.

You need to be able to work well with managers and people more senior than you. You need to be able to have build and maintain relationships – it’s one of the job requirements.

Source

 

9. Ethics – Have you ever had to make an ethical decision on one of your projects?

Are they aware of the legalities, codes and ethics as a project manager?

“I awarded a contract to my mate once and we split the profit” is not something you want to hear and definitely NOT legal. And NO… You cannot now become buddies with Susan hoping that you can award projects and split the money 3 ways. Just don’t.

Source

 

10. Impact / improvement – have you improved the project management processes at your current job and if so – how? Ask them to elaborate on their answer.

This will show you if the person has had the guts to approach management with their innovative ideas and if they’ve come up with suggestions for improvements. Someone with ideas and who isn’t afraid to put them forward.

Source

 

and the BONUS question is…. wait for it…

11. Doughnuts – will you be providing these??

 

HIRED!!

Source

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Michelle Crosby

I started my journey at Leads 2 Business in the Directory Department in 2012. I was then promoted to the Private Projects Department in 2014 and was recently promoted to Projects HOD this year.

8 Jun 2017

L2B Blog: The Complete beginners guide to workers compensation

by | posted in: Frequently Asked Questions, General | 0

The Complete beginners guide to workers compensation

What is Workmans Compensation (WCA)?

 

According to Wikipedia.org: “Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured in the course of employment in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee’s right to sue their employer for the tort of negligence.”

 

What is the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA)?

According to Labour.gov.za: “To provide for compensation for disablement caused by occupational injuries or diseases sustained or contracted by employees in the course of their employment, or for death resulting from such injuries or diseases; and to provide for matters connected therewith.”

 

One would ask then, what is the difference between The Workmans Compensation Act and the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act? If I get injured whilst on duty where would my claim be submitted then? At the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) or at Workmans Compensation (WCA)?

 

It is all one and the same thing.

 

The Workmans Compensation Fund was still operating under this title until 1992 where this act regulated and determined if, when, how and to whom the fund will compensate after any employee got injured on duty. In 1993 a new act was drafted, the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA), as the South African government thought it was a good opportunity to “modernise” the act to suit the rest of the South African Labour legislation.

 

The old Workmans Compensation Act used the term “workman” where the labour law refers to “employee”. This is a more politically correct term to be used. Although COIDA has been operating since 1993, one will still hear about the Workmans Compensation Act or WCA often.

 

The term ‘workmans compensation’ is recognised world wide. In prominent countries like USA, Canada, Australia and also the International Labour Organisation (ILO) it is the appropriate term to be used.

 

Who can claim from Workmans Compensation?

The following people can claim if they get injured whilst on duty or get ill because of work related diseases that results in injury, disability, death or illness:

  • All employees;
  • Casual workers;
  • Full-time workers.

 

This excludes the following:

Workers who are totally or partially disabled for less than 3 days; domestic workers; anyone receiving military training; members of the South African National Defence Force, or the South African Police Service; any worker guilty of willful misconduct, unless they are seriously disabled or killed; anyone employed outside the RSA for 12 or more continuous months; and workers working mainly outside the RSA and only temporarily employed in the RSA.

If any employee gets injured or dies whilst on duty, a claim needs to be submitted within 12 months of the date of an accident or death to the Commissioner, employer or mutual association.

 

Here is a few examples of the 10 Most Common Workers Compensation Claims:

1. Overexertion

2. Slip or Trip and Falls

3. Fall to Lower Level

4. Bodily Reaction

5. Struck by Object

6. Struck Against an Object

7. Highway Incident

8. Machinery Accidents

9. Repetitive Motion

10. Workplace violence

 

Please click on the following link to get a better understanding of South Africa’s Workmans Compensation Act or should I say the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act:

http://www.labour.gov.za/DOL/find-more-info/all-about-workmens-compensation

 

Sources:

 

 

About George Harris

I started my incredible journey at Leads 2 Business in 2006. I am the Content Director, custodian of an amazing research team responsible for unearthing hidden gems of information.

25 May 2017

L2B Blog: The toll on our roads: is it fair & the impact on accidents and safety

by | posted in: General | 0

The toll on our roads: is it fair & the impact on accidents and safety

Before starting the discussion if tolls are fair we need to know the following:

 

What are tolls?

Most roads are built with local, state or national government money raised from taxes. Tolls are like a tax that applies only to the users of the toll road. Some lanes may have people working the toll booths so that you can pay with change or cash like we usually see in South Africa.

Click here to view the source

 

Why have toll roads?

Roads form the main artery of economic competitiveness, growth and social development. To build roads costs billions of rands. Toll roads assist us in meeting the demands of social services, which are important for the growth of our country. Toll roads accelerate the availability of initial funding for construction, compared to traditional tax-based funding. They also make new road capacity available to motorists sooner. Toll roads, therefore, reduce the total net cost to the economy, ensuring greater opportunities for prosperity and growth.

 

What are my tolls used for?

The tolls collected on a specific road are used to, among other things, repay the loans obtained to finance the building, upgrading or improvement of the road. In addition, it provides a dedicated on-going revenue stream, which enables the road to be adequately maintained and improved, independent of tax –based revenues.

 

What do I get from using a toll road?

Toll roads are built and maintained to the highest possible standards. Because we uphold such standards, South Africa is recognised as a world leader in pavement technology.

Therefore you are ensured of a smooth ride, saving you on the running costs of your vehicle and saving you time. Improved security ensures you a safe and pleasant journey. Tolls ensure that funding is available much sooner, for adding highway capacity at the right time thereby relieving congestion, reducing losses in time and productivity.

I feel an argument coming on, does the government use this revenue wisely? Do they take the commuters using these roads daily in consideration?

If you use the tolls once in a while one might not be affected by the increase in toll fees, but if you use these daily routes to work and back, costs start adding up.

A trip from Soweto to Pretoria cost motorists an additional six percent in tolls. This is just one route‚ as the increases cover tolls across South Africa,

The Automobile Association (AA)‚ commenting on the South African National Roads Agency’s tariff increases announced unexpectedly in March 2017‚ calculated that the increase in rand terms is from R731.80 to R775.40 for a return trip between Soweto and Pretoria on a monthly basis.

Click here to view the source

 

Like all costs, tolls fees have to be increased as well as toll roads are constantly being upgraded, but one wrong decision made by a civil engineer and millions of rands could go to waste.

Okay, but that’s opening a whole new can of worms.

Accidents can be caused by various aspects when using roads, including bad road surfaces, bright lighting from oncoming traffic (from the not so courteous drivers), no proper barriers in place which could avoid a string of vehicles from being involved in an accident, potholes… POTHOLES!!!

Click here to view the source

 

Every driver’s nightmare, besides causing damage to your vehicle that can cost you thousands to repair, these tiny holes and some not so tiny, can cause truck accidents and motorcycle accidents in addition to poor road conditions that often result in serious car accident injuries.

Moreover, motorcycle drivers are at an increased risk for serious and fatal injuries due to the dangerous road conditions potholes create. When a vehicle hits a deep pothole, the impact is similar to that of a collision at 35m/ph (56.3km/ph). All motorists have a responsibility to look out for road hazards, such as potholes and drive carefully to prevent car accidents.

Yes, motorists have to do to their part concerning road safety, but the government also has to play a vital role in this.

Road safety campaigns have been implemented from their side. Is this enough? Have they drawn enough attention to these campaigns?

A key aspect of the integrated Road Safety Management Programme is increasing pedestrian safety. In planning and design, SANRAL (South African National Roads Agency) provides for interventions such as traffic calming, safe stopping areas for public transport and pedestrian bridges. The Department of Transport also engages communities adjacent to national roads to find solutions to pedestrians’ needs.

To contribute to safety on the roads, SANRAL has developed a database of projects that need to be implemented in areas that are hazardous to pedestrians. The solutions range from pedestrian bridges, pavements, road safety education and traffic calming measures.

When it comes to managing safety on freeways, SANRAL’s incident management system, supported by central coordination centres, embraces interaction between emergency services and law enforcement agencies on all declared national routes.

Be safe on the road my fellow commuters, overall we have to keep ourselves safe on the roads.

Here are a few tips to keep you and others safe when travelling,

  • adhere to the speed limit
  • avoid the use of cell phones while driving
  • ensure that your vehicle is roadworthy
  • do not cross the road where it is not safe to do so
  • take regular breaks
  • buckle up, safety belts save lives
  • avoid driving under the influence of alcohol

 

Also visit the Arrive Alive website for more safety tips, https://www.arrivealive.co.za/

Travel safely!!!

 

Did you Know #DYK: Interesting facts about research in South Africa

About Sharika Raman

I have worked for Leads 2 Business from January 2015. I started in the Leads 2 Quotes Department for Directory, in January 2020 I was promoted to the Deputy Head of Department for Leads 2 Quotes and in July 2021 I was promoted to the Accounts Department as a Debtors Administrator. I enjoy time with my family creating memories, I like to socialize but also enjoy time to myself so I try to keep a balance by indulging in some quiet time when I can. I see myself as a realist, amazing wife and awesome mom…I am sure my family would agree.

18 May 2017

L2B Blog: The longest Civil Engineering job Underway in SA

by | posted in: Construction Chat, Uncategorized | 0

The longest Civil Engineering job Underway in SA

“N2 Wild Coast Toll Highway”

The longest Civil Engineering job Underway in SA

PPA 6181 on L2b Website: http://www.l2b.co.za/Project/N2-Wild-Coast-Toll-Highway/6181

Is it the One / Is dit die Een / Ingabe iwo na?

Image Source: click here

 

Talks about this project have been going on since 2008, when the project was first captured on the L2B Website.

It has created thousands of jobs as the work included nine major bridges and three interchange bridges. The project also includes two mega-bridges across the Msikaba and Mtentu river gorges at a cost of R1.2-billion and R1.3 billion respectively.

 

What this all looked like before the works:

Image Source: click here

Which justifies why this was the most controversial subjects and most popular as it was famous for its unspoilt and untouched natural surroundings

 

As we all know Construction works are carried out in the form of projects. Projects are becoming progressively larger and more complex in terms of physical size and cost. In the modern world, the execution of a project requires the management of scarce resources; manpower, material, money, and machines to be managed throughout the life of the project – from conception to completion – as per pictures below:

 

Construction Process (From Start to Finish):

Image Source: click here

 

Image Source: click here

 

Image Source: click here

 

Image Source: click here

 

Facts and Benefits:

  • The creation of this new road increased accessibility to the area and thus increased job creation and improved livelihoods
  • It has also served to increase connectivity and logistics between the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal regions.
  • Moreover, the many coastal reserves, whose aims are to educate people and to conserve the natural environment, and serve as tourist attractions, will become more accessible.
  • Overall, on the positive side, it is anticipated that the new N2 road has greatly benefitted the surrounding communities in terms of job creation, infrastructure development and accessibility, which facilitates tourism and related economic opportunities.

Despite the works that have taken place over the years, it is still amazing how the Wild Coast has preserved its originality by keeping and maintaining its tourist attractions:

Image Source: click here

No wonder Everybody likes taking a walk on the Wild Side…..Thanks to the N2 wild coast Highway, it has made this much much easier

For reference purposes, please refer to the following link: http://www.wildcoast.co.za/wild-coast-toll-road-eia-public-participation-flawed

About Michelle Ngubo

I have been working at L2B since March 2014 and my current position is Tenders Africa Deputy HOD and Classy is the best word that describes me.

11 May 2017

Potholes and Pitfalls in civil engineering contracts

by | posted in: Construction Chat, Safety | 2

Potholes and Pitfalls in civil engineering contracts

Potholes… an infrastructure issue that deserves a whole blog to itself! How often during your travels (be it your annual drive down to your favourite holiday spot, or your daily route to work) do you face the inconvenience of roadworks? I think all of us experience this from time to time. It goes on for months, sometimes even years. Finally, the works are completed and we breathe a sigh of relief. No more queues of traffic or uneven road surfaces, no more narrowing down to one lane. Phew! At last. A few weeks down the line…. a POTHOLE!!?? The blame gets shifted around quite a bit between all the parties involved in the contract, but where does the problem really lie?

 

I must admit. This blog title planted a new “anxiety seed” in my brain, and I found myself trying to put on a civil engineer’s shoes (figuratively, not literally).
I follow the progress of numerous infrastructure projects (but not pothole repairs!) in the department that I work in – the Projects Department. Or more affectionately known as the PP office. A few months (usually about 3 months) after a Tender is advertised for a civil engineering contract, we follow up with the relevant contacts in order to obtain the awarded civil engineering company’s details. We then contact the civil engineer and follow the design process, then the tender and construction progress, until the Project is complete. We do not delve too deep into the issues that may be presented during or after the life-cycle of the project, however, we do try to ascertain if or how those problems will affect the time frame of the development.

 

During my research for this topic, and on more than one occasion, education and training seemed to be a major area of concern when looking at civil engineers in the public sector. South Africa’s public sector appears to have very few professionally registered civil engineers and some of the engineers are placed in positions without possessing the required skills and experience. This could lead to errors in proposals when tendering for contracts and can have serious consequences.

 

Numerous failed infrastructure projects throughout South African history must surely be making things a bit more difficult for companies to win civil contracts. I would imagine that quality standards have been raised in order to improve public health and safety. These standards would hopefully be imposed on both engineering and construction firms, as both (among other professionals) are just as important in the quality of the completed project.

 

One example of a failed project is the collapse of the P166 bridge over the N4 in Mpumalanga in 2009. The beams collapsed and blame was shifted between a speeding truck which caused vibrations while travelling under the bridge, to vibrations caused by jackhammers and manufacturing errors. Another concern was the amount paid for the beams – it was substantially lower in comparison to what other engineers said the beams would usually cost. Sub-standard materials constitute a huge issue and can end in disaster.

 

The Foreshore Freeway Bridge in Cape Town is a well-known incomplete road structure. The bridge was designed in the 60s, and in the early 70s construction commenced. Construction was halted in 1977, apparently due to a lack of funding. However, rumour has it that there was an error in calculations during the design phase and that the two ends of the bridge would fail to meet!

By Flickr user Paul Mannix – https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulmannix/552103944, CC by 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46305687

 

Perhaps one of the most spectacular bridge collapses in the world was that of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (also nicknamed Galloping Gertie) in the USA, over 76 years ago due to strong winds. The design of the suspension bridge did not allow wind to pass through the sides, causing the bridge to sway and eventually collapse. It only stood for about 4 months after completion before disaster struck. Lessons have been learned and the way in which future suspension bridges are designed, have changed. The parts of the bridge that plunged into Puget Sound have formed a man-made reef, which is protected by the National Register of Historic Places. Click here to see the video, and to see where the bridge got its nickname.

By Barney Elliott; The Camera Shop – Screenshot taken from 16MM Kodachrome motion picture film by Barney Elliott, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23093518

 

Project failures, such as the ones I have mentioned above, can cast a dark shadow over the industry – an industry which is partly responsible for ensuring that our country’s infrastructure withstands time, utilising taxpayer’s money in a responsible manner. It is critical that we recognise the importance of skilled civil engineers and that employees of the profession look to improve their skills if given the opportunity.

 

Don’t get me wrong, we have some excellent civil engineering structures on our continent. The Maputo / Catembe Bridge, a 680m suspension bridge standing 60m over the water between Maputo and Catembe, is just one example to prove that:

 

Sources:
https://www.businesslive.co.za/fm/features/2017-03-16-cracks-in-the-walls/

http://www.lowvelder.co.za/index.php…news&Itemid=98

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacoma_Narrows_Bridge

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreshore_Freeway_Bridge

http://journals.co.za/docserver/fulltext/civeng/24/2/civeng_v24_n2_a13.pdf?expires=1493899313&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=2EB4C398FA20074700668F139373D9BDhttp://www.africaranking.com/top-10-longest-bridges-africa/3/

About Bianca Warwick

I had the privilege of joining the Leads 2 Business content team in January 2012. I work in the exciting Projects department, following the progress of construction developments in KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State.

8 May 2017

Did you know #DYK – Cost to build Roads

by | posted in: Construction Chat, Did You Know | 0

Cost to build Roads

Cost to build Roads

What is a road?

 

A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places that has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by foot or some form of conveyance, including a motor vehicle, cart, bicycle, or horse) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road which costs a vast amount of money to build

 

The question “Cost to build Roads” was ignited from Trevor Manual’s speech to CESA (Consulting Engineers South Africa) dated 08 October 2009 (#throwback) where he had mentioned the high cost of building of roads in South Africa.

 

Please Click on link to view the speech: http://www.cesa.co.za/cesaway_presentations/Trevor_Manuel_%20Speech.pdf

Flanders Drive Intersection – Mt Edgecombe:

This is a very difficult question to answer as road construction costs may vary as there are many factors to consider when building a road, please view the list below:

  • Design
  • Amount of environmental mitigation required
  • Terrain
  • Soil Conditions
  • Type of Roads
  • Width of Roads
  • Road Standards
  • Machine and Labour Costs
  • Skill of operators and labours
  • Accommodation
  • Contractors operating cost (such as fuel, labour, interest rates, insurance)
  • Traffic Management
  • Safety Aspects of pedestrians, detours
  • Time available to complete the task
  • Time of the year
  • Construction materials used
  • Availability of materials (shipping material outside the province vs using local materials)

“Road construction techniques are similar throughout the world, you can possibly achieve cost estimates once the main conditioning factors have been identified, by applying figures from similar Road construction projects. For reasons of comparing costs, it is advisable to break down labour and machine costs into different elements. The following breakdown is suggested: Surveying, staking the alignment and clearing right of way; formation of the road; rock blasting; Draining facilities (ditching, culverts); Crushing gravel; Gravelling, grading and compacting; Construction and environment protection works (bridges, retaining structures and soil stabilisation works). The cost of construction; Miscellaneous works (such as transport, delivery and minor earthworks; Projects servicing costs). Once the costs have been calculated for the different elements, unit costs (costs per m, per square m, per piece of construction work) should be developed to facilitate in estimating costs in future road projects and for comparative purposes. http://onlinecivilforum.com/site/index.php/2016/10/27/road-estimate-excel-sheet/

 

What does 1 km of road cost to build in South Africa? Up to R25 million per km according to CSIR (this information is sourced from the link below if you beg to differ please let us know): http://www.answers.com/Q/What_does_1km_of_road_to_build_cost_in_south_africa

 

The question still remains to be answered why are the construction cost of roads still so high and are they paved with “gold”?

 

For your information from OUTA (Organisation undoing Tax abuse): Please see Paper on High Pricing, Collusion and Capture of National Road Construction.

 

Please click to view active (Road) Projects currently on our system:

About Pauline Rainbird

I have been working at L2B since March 2011 and my current position is Deputy Head of Department - Africa. When I am not working I am either riding my bicycle or spending time with my dogs.

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