EMPLOYMENT OF SKILLED AND UNSKILLED LABOUR
All staffs and skilled labour were mobilized from Lagos to Calabar, while all unskilled labour were employed within the surrounded communities of Lafarge Africa Plc, Mfamosing Plant, Calabar.
SITE MOBILIZATION AND PREPARATION
All equipment (for civil and fabrication work) and materials were also mobilized to site. The location assigned to us for the fabrication was cleared and prepare to meet the nature of activities to be carried out on it.
SAFETY INDUCTION FOR ALL SITE WORKERS
A safety induction is the first step to engaging your contractors, employees and visitors regarding working safely on site, in the workplace. It’s typically made up of a series of steps around performing a job role safely by properly going through safety training, a site tour, hazards in the workplace to be aware of, collecting important licenses and certifications as evidence of training and being tested on their competency.
Common Safety Topics Discussed
A common set of safety topics discussed includes:
- Understanding and awareness of specific hazards e.g. dusts, earth moving equipment, etc.
- Working at heights
- Electrical safety
- Fire safety
- Emergency procedures
- Medical kit locations
- Evacuation locations
- Bullying and harassment policies
- Code of conduct
- Hot work
- How to report an incident or hazard
- Local hospital contacts – Lafarge Clinic
- Lifting activities
- Local emergency services contacts – Lafarge Fire Emergency
- Energy Isolation
FORMATION OF RE-BARS FOR CASTING OF COLUMN
The iron bender used the iron rods on site using the design for the project being supervised by foreman for the formation of re-bars for casting column base.
EXCAVATION OF GROUND FOR STANCHION BASE
Before the excavation for the proposed foundation was commenced, the site was cleared of vegetation, stone, stumps of trees etc. Roots of the trees shall be removed to at least 30 cm below the foundation level. The pits formed due to roots of trees, old foundations etc. shall be filled up with soil and compacted.
Manual digging was adopted during this project as the dimension to be dig was not large to accommodate the use of equipment. Jack hammer was used in area where there was rocks and concreted grounds.
FORMATION OF FORM WORK FOR THE CASTING
The carpenter prepared the formwork with dimension given by the Project engineer.
CONCRETE MIXING
Mixing concrete is simply defined as the “complete blending of the materials which are required for the production of a homogeneous concrete”.
Concrete is a composite material made up of cement, sand, coarse aggregates and water. It is the primary construction material. It plays a significant role in the structure’s serviceability and durability. Not only the concrete but the process of concreting such as batching, mixing, transporting, compacting and finishing etc. also plays a significant role. Though making concrete is very easy, the proper concreting process is quite difficult and requires extra care specially the process of mixing of concrete ingredients.
Importance of Mixing of Concrete
Proper mixing of concrete ingredients is of utmost importance in order to produce good quality of fresh concrete. During the process of mixing the surface of all the aggregate particles is coated with cement paste. Well mixed concrete is required for the desired workability and performance of concrete in both the fresh as well as the hardened state. If the concrete is not well mixed, then it tends to segregation and bleeding.
On this project, the method that adopted was Machine Mixing of Concrete (Mixing concrete with a mixer machine)
CASTING OF STANCHION BASE
The portions set out are to be excavated to a depth of 1300mm. The bottom of excavation was blinded up to 100mm thickness.
The reinforcement was placed and cast pad base to cover up the reinforcements’ baskets up to a height of 300mm.
The formworks for columns in foundations was placed and aligned using the plywood plates on them and the lines used for setting out their centers. Bracing up the formworks together to stop them from going out of place during casting.
The columns were casted in foundations leaving out the threaded part of the reinforcements. These treaded parts are to hold the stanchions’ plates which serve as their bases. The formworks were strike out after 24 hours.
FABRICATION OF COLUMN FOR PIPE SUPPORT
The stanchions were fabricated using the approved design with the required numbers were fabricated and painted.
INSTALLATION OF COLUMN
The stanchions were installed with the aid of hiab
MOBILIZATION OF PIPES AND PIPE FITTINGS
The procurement officer led the pipe bought to the plant for delivery at the site.
MOBILIZATION OF SAND BLASTING TEAM
The sand blasting team mobilize to site as they were inducted and check their fitness to work at the site.
SAND BLASTING OF PIPE AND FITTINGS
The sandblasting process knocks lose any paint, coating or debris so that the surface can be washed clean with ease, resulting in an extremely smooth surface. A sandblasting setup usually consists of three components: Abrasive. Air compressor. Blaster nozzle.
APPLICATION OF ANTI RUST PAINT AND FIRST COATING
Applying the recommended red oxide on the sand blasted pipe immediately to prevent corrosion.
FIRST COATING OF PIPE AND FITTINGS WITH GOLDEN YELLOW
Purging is the act of removing the contents, combustible gas of a pipe (natural gas) and replacing it with another contents, non-combustible gas. Nitrogen purging is an industrial process where unwanted gases that can cause fire explosion. Due to the inert properties, nitrogen was used to effectively displace oxygen and other pro-oxidative gases
INSTALLATION OF 10 INCHES GAS METER
The gas flow meter was installed with the aid of carrying crane as the fitter align it with installed flange at the Mfamosing gas station.
TIE-IN OF PIPE SPOOL TO EXISTING LINE AT GAS STATION AND KILN 1 PLATFORM
