Reginald Smith

Provides Professional Project and Construction Management Services to Clients in the Built Environment, Civil Engineering & Construction industry. Also provides expert Project Management Services on full Turnkey EPC & EPCM Projects to companies in the Mining industry.

As Managing Director of ROBS Engineering (Pty) Ltd, we offer Engineering, Construction and specialized industrial Procurement & Supply Company, provides Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Roads & Earthworks and Building Construction services in Southern Africa & West Africa. We also offer proficient Engineering and Construction Project Management services, specializes in the building and construction of office and commercial buildings, hospitals, residential, hotels and resorts, educational facilities, property development, and special projects including EPC full turnkey solutions.

Current Project - Construction of 13.2-million-barrel Crude Oil Blending and Storage Terminal (TankFarm) which consists of twelve 1.1 million barrel in-ground concrete tanks and associated structures in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape of South Africa.

- Management of multi-disciplinary project teams for the Construction of Oiltanking Mogs (OTMS) R2 Billion Crude Oil Blending and Storage facility (Tankfarm).
- Sets and maintains production targets and operates within prescribed budgets.
- Co-ordinates and controls the activities of site staff and agrees quality standards set out in contract. Liaises with clients’ staff and agrees quantities, programme, etc.
- Procurement of Specialized Equipment and Coordination of Specialist Subcontractors, Suppliers, Manufacturers and Design Engineers.
- Submit monthly revenue certificates and cost estimates.
- Sets and maintains work sequences and construction programmes.
- Controls and administers the major complex construction project from commencement to completion and handover to client.
- Full Contracts Administration & Management duties.
- Allocation and management of resources (Personnel, Plant & Equipment)
- Management of Subcontractors and Payment Approvals
- Client and Stakeholder Liaising
- Construction Monitoring and Supervision
- Construction Quality Control & Quality Assurance
- Health Safety & Environmental Management compliance on site.
- Construction Claims, Variation Orders and Contractual Notices as per the FIDIC Conditions of Contract.
- Procurement of Specialized Equipment and Coordination of Specialist Subcontractors, Suppliers, Manufacturers and Design Engineers.

Project & Contract Management of various Bulk Water supply Construction Projects, Roads & Stormwater Construction Projects, Commercial & Residential Buildings construction and refurbishments projects.

Duties and Responsibilities Includes:
- Full Contracts Administration & Management duties.
- Allocation and management of resources (Personnel, Plant & Equipment)
- Management of Subcontractors
- Client and Stakeholder Liaising
- Construction Monitoring and Supervision
- Construction Quality Control & Quality Assurance
- Health Safety & Environmental Management compliance on site.
- Construction Claims, Variation Orders and Contractual Notices as per the NEC3 ECC Conditions of Contract and FIDIC Contract.

Management of project teams of multiple construction project sites for the construction of various Water Treatment Plants and Sewage Treatment Plants.

- Ensuring that construction and pre-commissioning activities are carried out safely in accordance with the design specifications, drawings and quality plan for the project and that the completed project meets the client’s requirements, statutory authorities and specific project requirements;
- Liaising with Client, Subcontractors, Vendors, and between Directors, Head office Project Managers and Site Managers/Site Supervisor’s, Labour etc.;
- Project coordination with Design/Process Engineers, Draftspersons and other discipline Engineers;
- Implementation and enforcement of the project Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE), policy, procedures and plans in close cooperation with the HSE Managers/Officers on the project;
- Oversee and manage Site Managers & Supervisors to ensure completion of the construction work, safely, to the required quality standards, the required sequence of priorities (i.e. construction project schedule) and full compliance with contract requirements;
- Manage and co-ordinate all construction related activities including project planning, cost control, procurement, contracts administration, employment of local Labour, material control, plant & equipment hire, etc.
- Ensuring implementation of the Construction Regulations, Industrial Relations Policy, Project Labour Agreement, Occupational Health, Safety & Environmental Management Plan, Regulations, Mines Health & Safety Regulations, and the NEC3 Contract;
- Weekly site visit, weekly site planning, problem solving including site personnel related issues;
- Client site liaison, resolving site contractual issues, & ensuring the implementation of ISO Quality Management Systems;
- Construction progress meetings, time related claims, early warnings, preparation of method statements, etc.
- Progress Reports, invoicing and reconciling of contracts;

Construction of 34km Bulk Water Scheme including Reservoirs, Pump Stations and Pipe Jacking in South Africa.
Includes construction of Bulk Water Pipelines:- Gravity Main from Existing 3ML Reservoir to Booster Pump Station and then to Service Reservoirs including two river crossings and Pipe Jacking under National Road crossing; Construction of one 250kl & two 1ML Reservoirs including Pump Stations.

- Complete duties of a Resident Engineer / Engineer’s Representative on site and mentoring of junior RE’s.
- Construction Monitoring & Supervision of Bulk Water Pipelines - 34km of (1200mm ɸ Steel pipes, 700 & 600mm GRP pipes, 315mm mPVC pipes and 250mm ɸ Ductile Iron pipes) - Gravity Main from Existing 3ML Reservoir to Booster Pump Station and then to Service Reservoirs including river crossings
- Construction Monitoring & Supervision of 50kl, 250kl & (2 X 1ML) Reservoirs including Pump Stations
- Construction Monitoring & Supervision Pipe Jacking (1200mm ɸ concrete encasing of 700mm ɸ steel pipes) under National Road
- Contract administration duties and maintaining of Quality Records
- Daily Site Diary of construction activities and preparation of monthly Progress Reports
- Issuing of Site Instructions and approval of Contractor’s Day works
- Chair, prepare and distribute minutes of monthly site meetings
- Prepare and check monthly progress payment certificate and submit for approval
- Prepare, check and submit Variation Orders (VO’s) for approval with motivation
- Inspect, witness, sample and arrange for testing of bulk water pipelines
- Measurement of work done with contractor and calculation of quantities
- Review and approve Contractor’s Method statements, Work Procedures and Quality Control Plans
- Monitor the construction methods including the plant and equipment used - note actual working hours
- Monitor and report on construction progress ensuring that the project remains within budget and construction program
- Managing and supervising various sub-contractors

ESKOM’s HENDRINA PLANT LIFEX STUDY, RSA - NEC3 Contract - (Project Value - R6 Million)
- Structural Condition Assessment and quantity survey of the Hendrina Power Station in South Africa.
- The proposed study required the conduction of a detail assessment of the life of plant and structures (steel & concrete) at South Africa’s Eskom’s Hendrina Power Station to determine the requirements and associated costs to operate the station. The scope covers the compilation of an overall general Structural Condition Assessment of the structures and prioritization of these conditions in order of magnitude costing for associated repair work covering two options (i.e. Plant Life until 2025 and Plant Life until 2035).

- Carried out visual survey on all Civil Structures on site;
- Retrieval and analysis of concrete core samples and other data from concrete structures;
- Data capturing from structures on the basis of severity of the corrosion/deterioration/structural issues typical in the area that is been visually assessed;
- Capturing basic quantity surveying information to enable the development of an order of magnitude estimate for the costs associated with any repair and paintwork required in an area;
- Estimate the relative rate of progression of corrosion / deterioration typical in an area based on a visual inspection of conditions in the area;
- Assign a “Consequence of Failure” of a structure based on standard definitions to be agreed with the Project Leader;
- Prepare reports on the general conditions of specific structural components/elements surveyed with medium to severe issues and provide anticipated nature of the repair work in each area.
- Also develop costs and priorities for repair / coatings work required for the rehabilitation of surveyed structures.

•Safety leader implementing Company SHEQ processes and procedures on site; •Monitor daily Site activities & ensuring Quality control;
•Manage site construction activities in cost effective and timely manner

- Project Management & Contracts Management
- Construction Monitoring and Administration
- Construction Management & Supervision
- Management of multiple projects and leading of Civil, Building and Infrastructure project teams throughout the project implementation stages and life cycle.
- Design of township services and upgrading of existing urban and rural informal settlements, including roads, stormwater, sewer, water and bulk earthworks.
- Contract documentation, including preparation of contract and tender documents, specifications and schedules (bills) of quantities, and evaluation of tenders.
- Construction Monitoring, Contracts Management and Administration of Civil infrastructure services Commercial & Residential buildings and Housing developments.
- Geotechnical Appraisal and Investigation
- Topographical Surveys, Maps & GIS
- Planning and Designing of Engineering Projects
- Project Cost Control, Quality Control, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Management
- Preparation and Production of Construction Drawings using AutoCAD

•Planning and designing of engineering projects as assigned by the Project Manager;

•Preparation and production of design and working drawings for use during contract execution, using the relevant software.

•Assist in preparation of project specifications, schedule of quantities and tender documents;

•Supervising, monitoring and inspecting construction projects for quality control;

•Measurements of quantities with Contractors on construction projects;

•Preparation of minutes, progress reports and other reports as assigned by the Project Manager;

•Any other technical and project-related tasks as assigned by the Project Manager

I was engaged as Project Engineer responsible for the building of foundations and erection of pre-fabricated Low Cost Housing structures using South Korean Technology under the project title “Building Homes Sheltering Lives”, a Millennium Development Goal Project for Sierra Leone addressing the post-war Housing Crisis under a Strategic initiative and investment proposal to promote development and capacity building for the Government and people of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

Practical Experience and Responsibilities Includes:

•Responsible for the operation activities of the project, liaising between potential investors and government officials;
•Day-to-day management of project site, including supervising and monitoring labour and the work of subcontractors;
•Planning the work and effectively organizing the project site in order to meet agreed deadlines;
•Overseeing Quality Control and enforcing Health & Safety, Environmental issues on site;
•Preparing Technical Reports as required;
•Ensuring all materials used and work performed are as per specifications;
•Interpreting drawings and contract design documents supplied on site;
•Review and updating of project programmes on a regular basis;
•Responsible for the safe operation of all machines, equipments and personnel on site;
•Organized regular site meetings and inspections of site work;
•Reviewing, monitoring and recording progress against the programme, and in the event of progress falling behind, ensuring that the appropriate actions are taken and a revised programme submitted;
•Setting up systems to review the Subcontractors Quality Plan and the overall management procedures, establishing systems for the checking of their works and instructing remedial works when non-compliance occurs;
•In conjunction with other parties reviewing claims from Subcontractors for additional payments;
•Preparing budgets and controlling expenditure;

Method; the use of British Standard BS 8110 Design code of practice for the design of various structural components such as Beams, Columns and Slabs; Preparation of Bill of Quantities/Cost Estimates for Civil Engineering Projects.

Practical Experience and Responsibilities Includes:

•Supervised the construction of basements for the installation of Celtel (Mobile Company) Network poles at various site locations in Freetown, Sierra Leone;
•Supervised the repairing of a residential building including roofing, tiling, painting, glazing, etc;
•Supervised an excavation to a depth of 20ft adjacent to two existing four storey buildings for the construction of a new building with two floors basements;
•Preparation of Bills of quantity for the pricing of various buildings;
•Evaluating work progress, making material requisition and general supervision of works to meet standard specifications and quality control;
•Involved in the structural design of various build elements such as beams, columns and slabs;
•Assisted in the preparation of bids for the submission of tenders for various works;
•Assisted in the preparation of work program for construction works;