Specifications for street roadway pavements / with instructions to inspectors on street paving work

by Samuel Whinery

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE GUIDANCE OF INSPECTORS ON STREET PAVING AND INCIDENTAL WORK

GENERAL

1. The chief duty of the inspector is to see that the work to which he is assigned shall be carried out in full and strict accordance with the plans and specifications therefor, and with such additional instructions as may from time to time be given by the engineer.

2. These instructions are intended to supplement but in no case to take the place of the specifications for the work, which must be fully and strictly complied with, unless they are changed or modified by the engineer.

3. Wherever the words “the engineer” are used in these instructions they refer to the chief engineer in charge of the work for the municipality, or his authorized deputies or agents.

Wherever the words “the contractor” are used they refer to the person, or firm, or corporation under contract to perform the work to which you are assigned, or his agents or employees engaged upon the work.

4. You will report to and be under the exclusive direction and control of the engineer.

5. Upon being assigned to any work you will obtain copies of the plans and specifications under which it is to be done, and will carefully read and acquaint yourself with all their provisions and requirements. If any part of these plans and specifications are not clearly understood by you, you will ask the engineer for explanations and instructions, and will be governed thereby. Failure to understand or to be familiar with the plans and specifications will in no case be accepted as an excuse for not complying with and enforcing them.

You will also obtain, study and familiarize yourself with all the blank forms, reports, etc., that are to be used by you on the work, so that they may be correctly utilized; you will also obtain a proper supply of such apparatus, tools, stationery, etc., as you will need upon the work.

6. In inspecting any work done under contract you are to assume that the contractor is bound to carry out in good faith the plans and specifications attached to his contract, and that he may be, and must be, held to a strict compliance with them unless you receive instructions to the contrary from the engineer. You will be held responsible for the enforcement of these plans and specifications so far as they relate to the doing of the work.

7. In case the contractor or his agents shall neglect or refuse to comply with the plans and specifications or to perform the work in a proper manner, or in accordance with the instructions of the engineer, you will direct him to suspend the particular work in fault and will report all the facts promptly to the engineer and await his instructions, which, when received, you will proceed to enforce.

8. You will be expected to be upon the work at all times when work is in progress, whether during ordinary working or office hours, or not. But in case the contractor shall work continuous day and night forces, or otherwise so conduct the work as to require the presence of an inspector for unusual or unreasonable hours of service, you will notify the engineer and ask instructions or assistance. If for any reason you are to be unable to be present whenever work is in progress you will promptly notify the engineer in time to enable him to supply a substitute.

9. All reports and records required of you by the engineer must be promptly made up and forwarded to him at the time and in the manner he may direct. You will promptly acknowledge in person or writing any instructions received from the engineer and in case such instructions are not clearly understood by you, you will ask for explanation or advice.

You will keep a notebook or diary in which all occurrences or matters of interest relating to the work will be recorded each day, which book will be delivered to the engineer on the completion of the work, or whenever your connection therewith may end. All diaries, notebooks and records kept on the work are the property of the city.

10. While your first duty is to see that the work is done in accordance with the plans and specifications, you will, so far as consistent with this duty, be considerate of the interests of the contractor and facilitate his work as much as practicable. Materials should be inspected promptly upon delivery and in such a manner as not to delay or discommode the contractor more than is necessary. Errors, defects or delinquencies in the work should be detected and called attention to promptly, so as to avoid tearing up and re-construction as far as practicable.

11. Orders and instructions should be given to the contractor or his foremen or representatives on the work and not to the laborers, unless in urgent cases.

12. You shall not at any time, before, during, or after the completion of the work, ask or accept from the contractor or any of his agents or employees, or from any other person whom you may have reason to believe is acting for the contractor, any money, gifts, gratuities or other considerations of value, whether as compensation for services rendered him or otherwise. The penalty for violation of this rule will be dismissal from the service followed by such legal prosecution as the engineer may direct. This rule does not apply to the ordinary small courtesies common between gentlemen associated in business.

13. It is a condition of your employment that your services shall be loyal to the interests of the municipality, efficient, and satisfactory to the engineer, and that whenever in his opinion your service falls short of this standard he may dismiss you at any time, without previous notice.