INTRODUCTION

The construction industry is concerned with the design, building, management and maintenance of public and private properties as well as infrastructure such as power stations, expressways and airports. This industry requires manpower at craft, technical and professional levels.

At the craft level, carpenters, painters and electricians are needed. The technical level comprises diploma-holders such as draughtsmen and clerks-of-works. At the professional level, there are degree holders such as architects, engineers and quantity surveyors.

The work of professional and technical staff includes:

·          designing buildings and supervising their construction

·          designing the development of urban areas

·          planning the development of urban areas

·          studying, designing and advising on the construction of civil engineering structures

·          advising on and developing plant, equipment and processes in electrical, electronics, mechanical, chemical,mining and other engineering fields

·          developing and controlling processes for extraction of metals

·          studying, planning and advising on the routing and control of road traffic

·          making surveys of earth's surface and underground areas

·          preparing technical drawings and maps

JOB DESCRIPTION

The following are some of the jobs in the construction industry:

(a) Architect and Town Planner

·          Designs buildings and supervises their construction.

·          Plans layout and co-ordinates development of urban and rural areas.

·          Designs layout of land areas for recreational facilities, road development and other projects.

·          Studies and examines plans to estimate cost and prepares bill of quantities for civil engineering projects.

(i) Building Architect

o         Designs buildings and supervises their construction.

o         Prepares drawings or scale models to illustrate appearance of completed buildings.

o         Prepares detailed specifications for builders' use.

(ii) Town-Planning Architect

o         Plans layout and co-ordinates development of urban and rural areas.

o         Analyses collection of data on economic, social and physical factors relating to the area's development.

o         Ascertains nature and rate of area's growth.

o         Advises on proper use of land and determines suitable sites for various urban and rural activities.

(iii) Landscape Architect

o         Designs layout for parks, recreational facilities, roads, commercial, industrial and residential areas and public buildings.

o         Studies conditions such as nature of soil, vegetation, rock features, drainage and location of buildings.

o         Prepares drawings, specifications and cost estimates for landscaping.

(b) Clerk-of-Works (Site Supervisor)

·          Inspects the progress of construction projects.

·          Supervises site activities, reads and interprets drawings.

·          Inspects materials and workmanship to ensure compliance with contract and regulations.

·          Conducts tests to check the standard of materials and workmanship.

·          Keeps site records and prepares progress reports for consultants, engineers and clients.

(c) Draughtsman (Technical Officer, Technician)

·          Prepares working plans and other technical drawings from sketches or notes for civil, mechanical and electrical engineering work.

·          Draws, traces and duplicates plans of buildings, highways, dams, culverts, bridges, steel structures, roof trusses, ships, floating docks, electrical wiring systems and topographical and geological maps and charts.

·          Workers in this group include:

o         Civil Draughtsman - Prepares drawings of buildings, highways, dams and culverts for construction or alteration purposes.

o         Structural Draughtsman - Prepares drawings of bridges, steel structures and roof trusses for purposes of construction, alteration or repair.

o         Marine Draughtsman - Prepares drawings from designer's sketches and specifications for construction of marine engineering projects.

o         Electrical Draughtsman - Prepares drawings, diagrams of wirings of buildings and factories, high tension and low-tension lines, appliances, motors, generators and other electrical equipment for purposes of manufacture, installation, operation or repair.

o         Technical Illustration Draughtsman - Draws technical illustrations for brochures, references and technical manuals dealing with assembly, installation, maintenance and repair of machinery.

o         Mechanical Draughtsman - Prepares engineering drawings for construction of machines and other mechanical devices.

o         Cartographical Draughtsman - Prepares maps and charts from surveys and other data. May specialise in preparing topographical, political, climatic, economic, sociological, nautical and other types of maps and charts.

(d) Land Surveyor (Technical Officer)

·          Conducts and executes different types of land and engineering surveys required for construction purposes, establishment of site boundaries and issuance of land titles.

·          Carries out physical survey of the land using all types of surveying instruments.

·          Collates survey data, records measurements, computes calculations and prepares reports, plans and maps.

(e) Quantity Surveyor

·          Measures and values building work and services.

·          Prepares tender and contract documents and manages the financial aspects of building works.

·          Prepares project budget.

·          Prepares specifications and bills of quantities to itemise all the materials needed and the work involved in a project.

·          Drafts descriptions of the materials and workmanship clauses for new, alteration and remedial works.

(f) Property Executive (Estate Officer)

·          Advises and handles problems arising from the use, ownership, development and management of properties belonging to property management companies.

·          Formulates maintenance work programme and manages properties in accordance to the programme.

·          Advises clients on the engagement of contractors and consultants.

·          Supervises maintenance staff and handles tenants' complaints.