EARLY CAREER PROFESSIONAL VIEWPOINT
Communication in the Field - Well Construction
Taylor Murray, ECP-0407
tmurray@geo-logic.com
Generally, early career professionals do a lot of fieldwork, which means there is a lot to know and depending on the size of the project, a lot of people to com- municate with. Field geologists need to understand the project and field tasks, collect and record data and coordinate with project managers (PM), contrac- tors, and to a limited degree, clients. When reliable and open lines of com- munication are established, it makes it possible for everyone to work together to complete a project successfully.
Establishing these lines of commu- nication begins with understanding the project. The scope of work and technical specifications define the purpose, proce- dure, and sequence of a project. Typically, a pre-construction or kick-off meeting is held to discuss the project in detail and to introduce the project team, their roles and contact information, chain of com- mand, communication expectations and content. The project scope, sequence, schedule, safety protocols and coordina- tion are reviewed, and questions, clari- fications and exceptions are discussed. The frequency of updates and check-ins with the client, PM and contractor are established and the expected update information is discussed such as daily status updates or end of shift work sum- maries. Understanding communication pathways allows response to quickly changing field conditions and resolu- tion of issues that may occur. Regular construction meetings and established periodic updates keep all key personnel aware of progress, issues, and needed actions.
Field staff must communicate inter- nally and externally to get their work done. Communicating with your PM, other field staff involved, and health and safety officers as well as with the con- tractor keeps the job running smoothly. Coordination between your PM and the client is crucial since direction is received and required from both. Oftentimes cli- ents will stop by the site to check in on progress and major project milestones.
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that you are working in the best interest of your client and company. Remember that good client relations and project success may lead to future work.
Understanding your role as a field geologist and how to get the work done is critical. You need to know the proj- ect schedule and milestones and what and when decisions need to be made to avoid scheduling delays. Changes in the
When speaking to a client it is best to verify details with your PM before relaying information directly to the cli- ent. Document and communicate project updates to your PM so information and recommendations can be relayed to the client. Clear and reliable communica- tion allows you to establish a trusting relationship with your team and signals
schedule related to equipment failure, and material or service delays happen- be patient, stay in contact and check in with contractors on progress so that you have enough time to get to the site or so you don’t show up when work is not yet ready to begin. It’s important to realize that oftentimes the schedule to complete work is tentative and is subject to change.
Field notes should be clear and con- cise, written legibly and provide a nar- rative of events. Maintaining consistent data collection is crucial and is a lot easier if you have done all you can to pre- pare for the tasks at hand. Know what’s going on before you arrive on site, iden- tify any potential issues and have a game plan of what needs to be done to move forward before you head to the site. Make sure collected field data is accurate and complete. Regularly record the progress on-site, including information from the drillers, field data and calculations, and updates provided to your PM so when a client calls they will be prepared to relay information effectively and efficiently – good communication avoids confusion, frustration, and unnecessary delays. Critical decisions are made based on field data, make sure you have everything organized and ready to send to your PM so they can review and utilize the data you have collected.
To communicate effectively with contractors, including drillers, helpers, pushers, drivers, operators, etc., you must become familiar with the ter- minology being used on-site. Drillers have their own lingo when it comes to on-site procedures, equipment and tools. Understand the language and use it - the more you know the easier it will be to identify what the contractors are referring to. If you don’t know the termi- nology, be sure to clarify terms with the driller to avoid miscommunication and potential mistakes.
Strong verbal and written communi- cation skills are incredibly important
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Apr.May.Jun 2021 • TPG 45
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