The Engine Room - Vol 1 Issue 3 - Jun to Aug 2022

THE ENGINE ROOM VOLUME 01

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ISSUE 03

JUN 2022 - AUG 2022

BAPE NEWSLETTER

HEADLINES Professional Indemnity Insurance Safe Practice in the Workspace and at the Workstation Positioning yourself for a career move Construction Contracts in Barbados

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Editorial

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The "Renewed" Construction Professional

President's Column Urgent Education Reform Required

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Mr. Vincent Jones

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E-Newsletter Interaction Section

Managing Conflict And Disputes Proactively Ms. Shan Greer

Eng. Rey Moe

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THE DIRTY ‘D’ WORD

Safe Practice in the Workspace and at the Workstation Ms. Andrea P Quintyne

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Construction Contracts in Barbados: A Closer Look at the FIDIC Form of Contract Mr. Leslie Haynes

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Fellows' Corner

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Free Movement of Caribbean Engineers

Introducing Girls to Engineering SIJ BAPE project July 25 – August 10 2022

Hon. Tony Gibbs

Ms. Joan Bourne

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Professional Indemnity Insurance The importance of being covered Mr. James Peirce

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Positioning yourself for a career move Tips for getting you the interview Ms. Ro-Ann Smith

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BAPE Corner Information about the Association and its membership

Editorial The "Renewed" Construction Professional

by Eng. Rey Moe, BSc., MSc., PMP, MCTS, CEng MICE The construction sector is a fast-paced and dynamic sector, filled with several demands for more work in a shorter time. It appears at times, that pace is everything and that the old adage “Time is Money” is bandied about now more than ever. Even with this being the case, all build professionals, whether desk-based or field-based, are still expected to produce deliverables of high standards of quality within this reduced time frame.

This presents a quandary whereby current workflows must be improved to meet these demands. Is this reasonable? Is this even possible?

The other alternative would be to ensure that the saw is sharp, preferably before the task, so that the task is done effectively and efficiently.

Perhaps it is. But not in the way, we have been doing things in the past – i.e., complicated workflows, throwing excessive resources at resource-inelastic tasks, long overtime hours for extended periods, outdated processes, techniques, software, hardware and equipment, etc.

Sharpening the saw entails being intentional about and focusing on improving four(4) domains your (1) physical, (2)social/emotional, (3) mental and (4) spiritual well-being.

It is this author’s opinion that the way of improvement must come by way of “renewal”.

PHYSICAL The physical aspect is generally about ensuring that your health is as good as it can be – improvements in diet, exercise and sleep.

The construction professional must improve his/her own production capacity and take time to, as Stephen Covey in his book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” would say, “sharpen the saw”. Imagine being given the task of cutting lumber, and you have a dull saw. You pick up the saw and get going because you, of course, have a crazy deadline. What happens? You expend double the time, waste loads of energy, and increase your level of frustration using this dull saw.

We are all aware that poor health results in absenteeism, time-off from work, abortive work, safety issues, staff turnover, frustrations for the project and organizational team members, and many more issues.

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A study done by Gibb, Drake and Jones for the Loughborough University under the auspices of the Institution of Civil Engineers shows that occupational ill-health in construction costs employers £ 848 Million per annum. This excludes costs borne by individuals, the industry as a whole and the wider society. It is noteworthy to point out that the authors believe that this is an understated amount due to an inability to collect data on sub-contractors.

Understanding these topics brings substantial value to an individual’s organization, projects and the industry as a whole. It should be noted that the BAPE regards having a knowledge of these matters quite seriously as its requirements for admission to Corporate Membership include the demonstration of competence for matters related to engineering management (core competency 4), communication skills (core competency 5) and teamwork (core competency 6) to name a few. Core competencies are the standards for competence and confidence.

EMOTIONAL/SOCIAL The emotional aspect deals with, in your downtime, participating in activities that you enjoy, with people that you would enjoy them with. Hobbies that we look forward to, particularly before or after gruelling work days/weeks, are needed.

SPIRITUAL Last but not least, the spiritual aspect deals with assessing and reviewing your valuesystem and understanding your overall purpose. Why am I doing what I am doing? Is there a greater purpose being served by my existence? What are my values? What are my spiritual disciplines that would be needed to keep my values system intact? These types of questions allow for deeper thinking, an understanding of self, increased positivity, decreased cynicism, and improved mood.

Additionally other ways of sharpening the emotional/social domain include, but are not limited to (1) cultivating healthy relationships, (2) making new friends, (3) enjoying dinner with family or friends, (4) volunteering and contributing to a worthwhile cause and (5) sharing your skills and talent.

Studies have shown that individuals who subscribe to this, and sharpen their saws, are well-balanced, highly effective individuals who have increased production capacity in the workplace.

MENTAL The mental component deals with ensuring that your mind is as sharp as it can be by reading and training, i.e., continuous professional development.

Along with technical topics, it is important that build professionals understand a slew of nontechnical topics related to commercial aspects of their projects (budgeting, contracts and contract administration, dispute resolution strategies and activities; insurance (e.g. contractor’s all-risk, professional indemnity, bonding, etc.)), accounting and finances; management and leadership aspects (e.g. understanding people, conflict management, etc.); people skills (e.g., effective communication, teamwork, etc.) and innovative, out-of-the-box, problem-solving methodologies and several others.

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EDITORIAL TEAM

The Engine Room is the resurgent enewsletter of the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers (BAPE). Its goals include providing interesting and informative articles of to The its readership, as Introduction Engine Room well as giving a voice to those who wish to contribute. A ship’s engine room is the place where the input is converted to its output, thus giving it power to travel to its destination; and this e-newsletter draws inspiration from this analogy - a driving force for our society. To create a space for engineers and others to debate, to opine, to share ideas and to collaborate for the better of engineering and the wider society, for this generation and for future generations to come.

Editor Eng. Rey Moe, BSc., MSc., PMP, MCTS, CEng MICE

Layout and Design - Lead Eng. Kenton Gamble, BSc., MBAPE, GMICE

Layout and Design Mr. Darren Beckles, BSc

Administrator Ms. Stacey Burgess

Reach us at bapenewsletter@gmail.com

Interested in joining the team? Check out our Interaction Section.

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President’s Column Urgent Education Reform Required

by Vincent Jones BSc. (Hons), ICIOB, Grad IOSH for The President.

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete” Buckminster Fuller

instruction into the 21st century, however it also exposed brutally, some stark realities that we as a society can no longer ignore.

As we launch into our Third Edition of the Engine Room, I would like for us as members of the BAPE to consider some of the challenges that face our education system and apply our engineering acumen to how best we could help to influence the change that is necessary to permit our Barbadian and by extension West Indian community to grow beyond our current constraints to actively compete globally. One might say these are lofty sentiments, but the Covid 19 experience has shown us that we no longer need to be in a particular geographical location in order to work and earn. With the advent of the Meta verse, soon the entire way we interact in the virtual space will change, the question is ....

Are we ready for such change? And by extension, is our education systems in the region ready for such advances, or will we once again be left to play catch up?

Firstly, our system of instruction was not geared towards virtual learning and a complete change in approach and mindset of educators had to change during this period, to ensure that students could continue to be educated. However, as the old adage states, “you should never seek to place new wine in old wine skins”, so simply trying to replicate what is usually done in the classroom online was never going to be enough to keep the attention and stimulate a tech-savvy generation who according to a CBS report of October 29th 2019 on Teens in the United States, indicated at that time, pre-covid, that they spent seven hours a day on their smart devices. Hence the entire approach to instruction must now change to reflect this new reality of remote digital learning.

As we bend our thought to these advances, one common denominator exists which we must actively seek to improve upon and push beyond its current mooring. The way we educate our people at all levels must change and quickly. Covid 19 catapulted our modes of

Secondly, we must seek to advance our modes of instruction to a mixed platform for mix abilities. There is also a requirement that more emphasis be placed on pushing critical thinking by engaging our students not to just do or repeat and learn via rote, but rather to

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interrogate and think about what they are doing and to understand the basic first principals and fundamentals behind what they are learning or doing.

progressive system where people are allowed to excel as per their abilities.

This need to refocus our educational efforts may indeed be deemed to be self-serving to the profession of Engineering, but I posit that this could only redound to the benefit of our society in the long run. If one looks across the range of Fortune 500 companies across the globe, it is soon evident that professionals who are Engineers are being sought after as company CEOs, because of their detailoriented, analytical and trained systematic approach to problem-solving and dealing with unforeseen issues as they arise. The likes of Jeff Bezos, Klaus Schwab, Steve Wozniak and Virginia Rometty are examples of engineers who have become CEOs. Engineers are trained to think critically and analyze, qualities desperately required in regional leadership at all levels today.

In every subject area there is an element of critical thinking and of asking the proverbial WHY before attempting something. What we must now reintroduce into our schools, is teaching our children to think. Its almost a paradoxical request, given that they live in a fast-paced world where everything is expected NOW. But those who will be at the top of the ladder in this tech savvy world, will be those who understand the WHY behind the NOW. I maintain that we should be at this juncture of our development, pushing harder on the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects, as I see this as offering our youth across the region, a real opportunity in gaining world-class and wellpaying jobs in industries where technologies of various kinds are the prime movers. We should be focusing on continuing the mandate handed down to us by the pioneers of thought for our nation building experience, who saw the wisdom in affording free secondary and tertiary education. This became the vehicle by which our people could continuously lift themselves economically. I fear however that we have become lazy as a people in maintaining the premise of this dream and in continuing to improve those educational opportunities on offer to our youth. The time has come perhaps where along with English and Mathematics, that computer coding also becomes mandatory, if we are to create a cadre of intelligentsia that can compete world-wide for jobs from right here in the region.

So let us as Engineers, use our influence and position ourselves to have a voice in the future of what we think Education should look like in this ever-changing, technologically driven world. Let us become partners in building what that new model of Education should look like.

Of course, for this revolution of progress to take place, a revolution in thought and foresight in our leaders must ensue, where tribal political nonsense is put to one side, a solid dynamic 20-year plan is embarked upon to modernize our approach to education, to ensure that all abilities are covered through a

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E-NEWSLETTER INTERACTION SECTION - PG1 In this Issue

Volunteers Wanted!

In In this issue of The Engine Room, we are delighted to bring to you a number of nontechnical articles from a very distinguished group of contributors mostly “outside” of the industry.

We are looking for enthusiastic persons to assist us in the preparation of the future content of the Engine Room, in the following roles:

We discuss professional indemnity insurance and its importance, particularly noting that it may soon be a requirement for construction professionals. We also take a look at some contract topics – construction contracts (a review of the popular FIDIC contract) and arbitration as a dispute resolution strategy.

Regular Contributor(s) (i.e., articles) – see attached our Invitation to Submit an Article – here, and email to us your Article Synopsis.

Interviewer(s)/Profiler(s) ,Researcher(s) Content Strategist(s) – Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, ICT, Construction, General

We thought it important to engage our readers on safe practice in the workspace and at the workstation, where advice is given to ensure the well-being of the build professional.

Please email us at bapenewsletter@gmail.com, using the subject line “Response to Volunteer Request” stating the role that you wish to fit into; and leave your contact information – name, contact numbers, etc. We will get back to you with how you can assist.

Also, it was important to include an article for graduates and those who may be considering a career move, giving you current tips on how to create a winning resume and cover letter to increase your chances of winning that dream job.

In the Fellows column, Hon. Tony Gibbs raises the issue of the variability in the educational requirements for engineers across the region and offers recommendations.

Share your Opinion Share your opinion, comments or queries with us at The Engine Room – on anything engineering or related! Email us at bapenewsletter@gmail.com. Please keep your submission concise (less than 300 words), civil, and professional, avoiding slander and personality attacks.

We are pleased to showcase a special BAPE project “Introducing Girls to Engineering” which was conducted between 25 July and 10 August 2022. cover page photo credit www.istockphoto.com/photos/group-of-rulerand-t-square

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The Engine Room will publish any interesting comments and queries.

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E-NEWSLETTER INTERACTION SECTION - PG2 Skills, Hobbies and Awards Let us know if you have other interests, skills, hobbies (e.g., photography, hiking), on the executive of another club, etc., or if you have won any competitions, awards, etc. Let us publish your non-engineering activities and achievements. We recognize the need to encourage each other to be well rounded individuals.

Email us at bapenewsletter@gmail.com, using the subject line “Skills, Hobbies and Awards”.

Ask our Fellows Do you have a burning question for our Fellows?

Or, wish to have one of them share from their vast experience on a particular topic? Here is your chance.

Email us at bapenewsletter@gmail.com , with the subject line “Query for our Fellows”, with a concise query, so that we can coordinate the response from our Fellows Group.

Advertise with us Bring your products and services directly to the attention of engineers, project managers, policy makers and construction leaders by advertising your business, products, and services with us at the Engine Room. Please check out our sponsorship package document on our website – click here ,which gives information about how you can partner with us.

Next Issue The next issue of the Engine Room will be out for the End of November 2022.

If you are currently not receiving copies of the publication, send as an email at bapenewsletter@gmail.com requesting subscription and we will add you to our mailing list.

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Fellows' Corner Free Movement of Caribbean Engineers

By The Hon Tony Gibbs CHB FRENG FBAPE

There are currently eighteen (18) Fellows of BAPE, all with significant experience, who have all contributed greatly to the built environment of Barbados, and other countries in the region. They have, without a doubt, been in a position of senior responsibility and/or significant autonomy in their particular field; and influenced policy and strategy-making decisions in either a technical or business environment.

One of the aims of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is to facilitate the free movement of Caribbean peoples, in particular the free movement of professionals with the ability to work throughout the region. In the case of the engineering profession, this would require reciprocal registration for those recipient states that already have a legal requirement for registration. Barbados is one of those states. Of course, ideally, the aim is to have reciprocal acceptance of professional engineers throughout the Commonwealth Caribbean.

This column is in honor of their sterling service – providing an opportunity for them to contribute articles and be profiled (either their professional career or any interesting projects).

When the Council of Caribbean Engineering Organisations (CCEO) was founded in 1969, and for several years afterwards, the requirements for Corporate Membership in any of the constituent bodies were harmonised. Those requirements were a BSc in Engineering from University of the West Indies (UWI) (or equivalent) plus 4 years of approved post-graduation work experience. In those days, and up to 2002 (I think), the UWI’s BSc was a “professional” level academic qualification. This is no longer the case. This change has been recognised by the Board of Engineering of Trinidad & Tobago (headed by Professor Winston Mellowes of UWI) which no longer registers engineers who have only a UWI BSc as an academic qualification. The law in Barbados still has the UWI BSc as its benchmark for academic requirement. So a candidate who may be able to be registered in Barbados may fail the academic requirement in Trinidad & Tobago. Also, the professional, post-graduation practice requirements have been significantly watered

As at the date of this publication, the current Fellows are (in alphabetical order): Eng. Eng. Eng. Eng. Eng. Eng. Eng. Eng. Eng. Eng. Eng. Eng. Eng. Eng. Eng. Eng. Eng. Eng.

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Abdul Pandor Andrew Hutchinson Andrew Gittens Bjorn Bjerkham David Lashley Errol Clarke Frank McConney Ken Blackman Peter Date Peter Simpson Peter Williams Philip Sobers Philip Tudor Ralph Adams Ralph Williams Lt. Col. Trevor Browne Tony Gibbs Vivian-Anne Gittens

down in Jamaica where only 2 years of approved post-graduation work experience is required for registration.

We have choices: Adopt the lowest common denominator approach – This would be disastrous and make a mockery of the engineering profession in the region.

Set the standard for reciprocity at the highest in the region – This is possibly that of the Board of Engineering of Trinidad & Tobago. This would be a hard sell in several countries.

Some years ago there was discussion about introducing a Caribbean Engineer standard (CarEng) cf the EurIng of Europe.

This would require much development, discussion, debate and (maybe) adoption.

It is possible (probable?) that applicants for CarEng would be required: - to have a Washington Accord “professional” level degree, - to submit a portfolio of work, - to sit a professional practice exam, - to be interviewed.

There has been a proliferation of tertiary educational institutions in the Commonwealth Caribbean offering degrees in engineering. They include the University of Guyana; the University of Trinidad & Tobago (UTT); the University of Technology (in Jamaica); the Faculty of Engineering at UWI (Mona); Faculty of Science & Technology (Engineering Department) – University of Belize; and the University of The Bahamas – Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences. These institutions provide engineering academic qualifications at a variety of levels and accreditations. At present, none of them offers “professional” level first degrees in engineering. (The possible sole exception is a course at UTT aimed specifically at the oil industry.)

It is possible (probable?) that most of the countries of the above-listed institutions regard their engineering first degrees as being satisfactory for the academic requirements for legal registration (where that exists) or Corporate Membership of their national engineering associations. This situation poses a serious problem for reciprocity across the Commonwealth Caribbean region.

This is worthy of serious consideration.

If the Caribbean takes deliberate steps towards improving and harmonising its standards for the registration of professional engineers, not only would reciprocity and free movement be facilitated, but there would be significant opportunities for the export of services to many parts of the world beyond the Caribbean.

The demands on the Engineering profession in the Caribbean are at least as great as those in other regions of the world. For example, in the field of Civil Engineering the profession has to contend with the multiple natural hazards of earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, volcanic activity, hurricanes, storm surge, waves and torrential rain. The average Caribbean engineer has a need for broader and deeper knowledge and experience than the average counterpart in the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America (USA) or Canada. The logic is that the academic programmes for engineers and the post-graduation training of engineers should be more demanding in the Caribbean than in the UK, the USA or Canada. Not only is this not the case at present but there is a prevalent view that Caribbean engineers do not need to be subjected to as stringent academic and practice tests as those in metropolitan countries.

I provide this as a basis for opening the discussion at the Barbados Engineers Registration Board, the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers and at the Caribbean Community.

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Professional Indemnity Insurance The importance of being covered

by James Peirce BSc, Dip, CII As a professional, you owe a duty of care to your clients in the execution of your duties under contract and at common law, and more and more focus is now placed on the capacity of professionals to make good on any errors or omissions committed that result in a loss to clients. This is also now reflected in the newly proclaimed P&D Act in clauses 44 I (4) and (5) which speak to the requirement for professionals to have professional indemnity insurance as a means of ensuring that they can make good on any loss caused by their negligence. Do not however depend solely on any legislation to protect you as a professional, or from the cost of other professionals’ negligence who lack this type of cover. For example, even where it is mandated, the required limits are often low as in the case of insurance brokers in Barbados where the current requirement is only $1,000,000.00 in cover.

involved, few can handle their liabilities themselves, even though the likelihood of something happening varies greatly by profession. The required coverage is found in the form of a Professional Indemnity Insurance Policy, and these policies are fine-tuned as well by profession to ensure relevance to the particular vocation.

What Could Go Wrong?

Hence, please consider the size and scope of the advice being taken and/or coverage being placed by your Broker whose coverage should be queried, and if necessary insist on a higher limit.

Typical areas of coverage include the following: Design mistakes (eg. MEP engineers design fails to deliver adequate cooling, power supply or water pressure to building due to inadequate design specifications).

Negligent acts Incorrect assessment or misdiagnosis of problem Incorrect advice Copyright Infringement (accidental) Loss of Documents (eg. loss of blueprints or original documents) Dishonesty of Employees Lawsuit from a client Confidential client information ends up in the public domain Sexual misconduct

In addition, more common forms of insurance such as Contractor’s All Risks and Public Liability Insurance contain exclusions for Professional Negligence, hence it is vital for all Consultants and Professionals, including your insurance Broker who you may consult on this cover, along with all others who give professional advice, either be in a position to live up to their responsibilities or have an insurance policy in place to cover the same.

The reality is that given the scope of risks

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What is Covered?

Professional indemnity insurance is designed for professionals who provide advice or services to their customers. It protects your business against legal costs and claims by third parties for damages arising from acts, omissions or breaches of professional duty in the course of your business.

It is primarily designed to respond to “pure” financial loss arising from faulty advice.

Common items covered Damage Awards: The damages awarded against you are covered.

Legal fees and court costs: Provides legal fees and court costs from the beginning of a claim until it is settled. Some policies offer replacement pay for the days you attend court.

Legal defense costs before state licensing boards: Offers legal defense costs for dealings before regulatory boards.

Professional boards or committees: Covers professional services carried out as an engineer or architect etc. while serving on professional boards or committees, and includes members of formal accreditation, educational institutions, and more.

Sexual misconduct: Pays defense costs and potential claims resulting from sexual misconduct accusations.

Advertising injury: Covers issues that result from your advertising. Includes libel, slander, defamation, copyright infringement and false advertising.

Personal injury: Protects you against personal injury claims resulting from right to privacy issues, false arrest, slander, libel and more.

Invariably, there will be aspects to any risk that Insurers are unwilling or unable to underwrite. In the case of Professional Indemnity Insurance, the following are some common risks that are typically not covered: The policy excess or deductible Death, injury or illness of employees – Should be more specially covered under Employers Liability

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Damage to third party property, unless arising out of faulty advice or omission.

Circumstances which might give rise to a claim which were known about prior to inception of the policy Dishonesty committed, condoned or contributed to by any partner, director or principal of the Insured Disciplinary investigations or proceedings, and/or any fines, penalties, or, punitive, restitutionary, or aggravated damages.

Liability assumed under contract that would not normally attach to the insured in the absence of the contract.

War and radioactive contamination What Limit and extent of cover should you maintain?

The appropriate professional indemnity insurance limit depends on you or your firm's circumstances.

Should the cover be required by contract there will typically be a specified minimum amount in the contract terms.

Outside of this, you should ask yourself: - What economic bracket are the clients you are working for in?

- If you make a mistake, how much damage could it cause, and how much compensation would a client try to claim against you?

- How much would it cost you in legal fees to defend the case?

- What is the worst case scenario, and would you or your business be able to survive such a claim?

What Jurisdiction and Territorial Limit of cover do you require?

Local or Worldwide? The Jurisdiction of the policy refers to where an action may be brought and covered, whilst the territorial Limits refers to the Geographical area where the loss must occur within in order to be covered.

Do you require cover to be retroactive?

And if so from what date? NB. This is often difficult to source if at all.

Care needs to be taken to ensure that you understand the risks that exist, but also the costs associated, and make sure your insurers are informed of the various roles and that cover extends to each of them.

Is coverage required/sought on a “civil liability” basis which will respond to claims arising out of any civil award made by a civil court? A “civil liability” basis is broader than a negligence wording as it will indemnify the insured for claims arising from strict liability, where no negligence is involved.

3. Insurance Coverage:

Making a Claim

Accept that despite your best efforts, many risks associated with your job will remain and you should seek insurance coverage in the event that something happens.

Cover is generally on a 'claims made' basis, which means that provided the claim is made during the period of insurance, it does not matter when the act giving rise to the claim took place. Before going on cover many insurers ask the insured for a declaration detailing any incidents which might potentially give rise to a claim.

Therefore, it is critical that once a potential claim is known by you it must be reported to your brokers/insurers.

For example if a claim is reported to you/known on 1st December and your policy renews on the following 1st January, it is critical to advise immediately, as if the policy enters the new coverage period (after 1st January renewal) and is not renewed then the claim will not be honored if presented later.

4. Keep Current on Industry Developments: Stay informed on industry best practice and developments through your local engineering association (Barbados Association or of Professional Engineers), as well as other international bodies. In addition, keep current with industry news and current events. This will help you identify and deal with emerging risks in your field, as well as find solutions for existing issues as they arise.

5. Document, Document, Document It is very important to document all of your client interactions carefully and fully. This will protect you in the event your actions are challenged, as well as assist the client through allowing you or other professionals to review the case properly.

Risk Management Tips 1. Respect and Ensure Confidentiality: Treat client confidentiality seriously, and in this digital world be wary of how you communicate and send text messages as many forms like WhatsApp etc. can be compromised and you could end up facing a board complaint or lawsuit.

Conclusion Professionals should actively engage fellow insurance professionals such as competent Insurance Brokers to get advice on what coverage they need as well as to assist them in sourcing robust Professional Indemnity Insurance from secure Insurance Companies.

This coverage should be seen not just as a necessity to comply with legislation in various jurisdictions, but as a risk transfer mechanism that will assist the Professional in bolstering their own security which will redound to the benefit of their clients who are increasingly seeking security from their professional advisers.

2. Set clear guidelines up front: Establish distinct boundaries with your client at the outset as to what services you will provide, and what you can't or won't do. Another emergent risk is with the recent popularity of Design Build Contracts and their variations, the lines between who is ultimately responsible for errors in design and advice are becoming more blurred than ever. Consultants as well are taking on the roles formerly handled by other professionals, and often act as Lead Consultant on jobs and hire Engineers, Architects, Quantity Surveyors and the like to perform work for them.

Mr. Peirce is a Director at Lynch Insurance Brokers Ltd. and can be reached at james.peirce@lynchbrokers.com.

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Positioning yourself for a Career Move Tips for getting you the interview

by Ms. Ro-Ann Smith, BSc., MSc. The job market is becoming increasingly competitive. As a result, job seekers are becoming more creative in their employment search. From video CVs, to including profile photos and charts and graphs, candidates are designing their resumes to attract the attention of employers. However, is creativity enough? No! It is much better to be strategic because, we know that even the most aesthetically pleasing structures can collapse if the right materials and techniques are not used. In this article, I will give you the basic tools to build a resume and cover letter that will optimise your ability to get before the interview panel.

Whether the hiring organization is using an ATS or a manual process, the recruiter generally selects resumes based on keywords in the advertisement. Using those words carefully throughout your resume will increase the chance of your resume being selected.

Therefore, each resume should be customised based on the job for which you are applying.

WRITING A WINNING RESUME A resume is a document that gives employers an idea of who you are and is a quick tool for determining if they want to consider you for an opportunity with their organisation.

However, it is important to note that some resumes do not make it into the hands of the recruiters.

Increasingly, recruiters use Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) to sort and collect applicants’ resumes, rank resumes according to set criteria and to simplify the hiring process since they collect hundreds of resumes for a single position. Some tips for making your resume ATS-friendly are:

The main components of a resume are: Header - contains your name and contact information, and may include your LinkedIn profile.

Professional summary - follows the header and provides a concise overview of your skills and experience in about three (3) or four (4) sentences. Some write a professional objective instead, however, I normally advise that a summary is used because employers are less interested in your goals than what you can actually accomplish

1. Write keywords exactly as they are listed in the job advertisement.

2. Use both long form words and acronyms, e.g. Masters of Business Administration (MBA).

3. Use traditional fonts, avoid tables and charts.

4. Avoid headers and footers.

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Crafting a persuasive cover letter

Professional experience – details of work experience including, name and location of workplace, dates of employment, position held and duties performed.

Highlight any special achievements where applicable. Begin each task with an action word.

The purpose of a cover letter is to persuade the reader why you are the best applicant for the job. While the resume is more factual, the cover letter can offer the flexibility to showcase your personality and communication skills. Don’t simply repeat what’s on your resume - rather, include specific information on why you’re a strong match for the employer’s job requirements.

Education – outline course of study; name and location of institution; dates attended.

A cover letter follows the same format as a normal letter, so your header, date, name, title and address of the recipient as well as a salutation is necessary. If the name of the person to whom the letter should be addressed is not included in the job advertisement, you can do a little research to find the name; personalising the letter is always best. Always have an appropriate closing and your signature.

Skills – list any skills that you have that are relevant to the position.

Awards/Honors – any special achievements.

Hobbies or voluntary work – this is optional but sometimes can present you as a wellrounded candidate who will be able to maintain a good work-life balance.

Consider not listing any hobbies that are dangerous as employers may not want to hire someone who may be regularly injured and off from work.

Introductory paragraph Here you include the position you’re applying for and a statement about your enthusiasm regarding the role and company. Explain where you heard about the job, particularly if you heard about it from a contact associated with the company. In addition, briefly mention how your skills and experience match the company and/or position; this will give the employer a preview of the rest of your letter.

Your goal in the introduction is to get the reader's attention.

General tips for resume writing 1. List duties in order of date, beginning with the most recent job.

2. Education should be listed before work experience only if you have minimal work experience or if your education is more relevant to the job you are applying for.

3. Include figures or statistics that prove your skills and achievements.

4. Use the past tense for former positions and present tense for current work 5. Avoid, where possible, repeating the same duties under each position. Add some variety if you can.

6. Research resumes online as a guideline for similar positions 7. Avoid personal pronouns 8. Keep the resume as concise as possible.

Body In a paragraph or two, explain why you are interested in the job and why you make an excellent candidate for the position. Mention specific qualifications listed in the job posting, and explain how you meet those qualifications. Provide specific examples that demonstrate your abilities.

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Closing

General cover letter tips

Your last paragraph should recap the reasons you are applying for the role and why you would be a great fit. Keep the closing conclusion brief and explain that you look forward to hearing from the employer with the next steps.

1. Avoid generic references to your abilities – give examples 2. Be concise – try for one-page maximum 3. Focus on your credentials instead of the qualifications that you don’t have 4. Customise your letter for each application 5. Have as much white space as possible (make sure margins aren’t too small) 6. Demonstrate cultural fit with organisation 7. Show a little personality 8. Proof-read before you submit Best of luck on your transition!

Ms. Smith is a PhD Candidate and a Marketing Consultant. She can be reached at ssschoolofbusiness@gmail.com

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THE DIRTY ‘D’ WORD Managing Conflict And Disputes Proactively

by Ms. Shan Greer MSc., LLB, FCIArb On any construction project, parties enter contracts to carry out the works with the hope and intention that their project will be the elusive unicorn that manages to reach completion on time and within budget. Much like that illusive unicorn, very few construction professionals can legitimately attest to having worked on a project that was not impacted by external conditions, variations or contractual defaults by one or both parties.

The purpose of arbitration is not to prevent the parties from suffering loss due to the conflict but rather to provide an effective way to minimize its impact on the project.

Sadly, despite being one of the oldest industries and even with technological advancements, time and cost overruns are still expected outcomes and, for the most part, widely accepted as a normal part of the industry. This reality often results in budgetary constraints on the Employer's part and/or reduced profit margins on the Contractor's part, which can cause conflict between the parties.

Parties opting to use the courts to resolve construction disputes will find it inadequate in providing quick and cost-effective results.

For this reason, arbitration is seen as the goto for construction projects because it delivers the flexibility required to resolve disputes quickly and cost-effectively. While the advantages of arbitration to the construction industry are undisputed, as evidenced by the fact that it is included in most standard forms, many parties struggle to leverage its benefits for various reasons.

As project managers, Engineers are frequently placed in the unenviable position of managing these conflicts to prevent them from escalating into full-blown disputes. With the right management tools, project managers are often able to issue decisions or negotiate compromises which move the project to completion, but even with the best of endeavours and intentions, the dirty ‘D’ word will roll off the tongues of one of the parties to the horror of most Engineers who appreciate that its utterance often triggers a series of formal procedures under most construction contracts, the most formal of these being arbitration.

For arbitration to provide value for money in resolving disputes, parties must consider how they would like to administer the arbitration at the contract negotiation phase.

Unfortunately, rarely do parties think about dispute resolution before contract signing.

Employers and Contractors alike are more focused on the commercially critical components such as the scope and value of the works.

Keen to come to a good negotiated position, parties rarely want to discuss the risks such as party default, weather and other factors within or outside of the parties' control, all of which give rise to disputes.

When a dispute does arise, there is no doubt that one or both of the parties will suffer some loss. The question is not a matter of if but by how much.

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As a result, parties will typically rely on the template dispute resolution clauses in standard forms or, worse, not include a dispute resolution clause.

processes such as dispute boards, adjudication or mediation. By its nature, arbitration often creates an adversarial environment, particularly in construction, where most disputes are a mixed bag of claims and counterclaims based on entirely different facts. After the project has ended, arbitral tribunals are often faced with the tedious task of resolving complicated questions of defects and delays, years after the relevant facts occurred. Coupling arbitration with a more flexible procedure that the parties can use during the progression of the works helps reduce the risk of conflicts escalating to full-blown disputes.

One of the reasons why parties and their representatives often fail to give suitable consideration to dispute resolution is because doing so often requires the assistance of a specialist construction attorney, which can be costly, particularly on smaller projects or projects with tight budgets. Nevertheless, there are strategic ways employers, contractors and engineers can utilise attorneys to keep costs down. Attorneys are more likely to agree fixed rate fees at the beginning of a contract, and establishing a relationship at the onset makes it easier to negotiate competitive fees for subsequent litigation. Given the high likelihood of disputes on construction projects, taking a proactive approach to securing legal advice is almost always the best choice for the industry.

When it comes to resolving disputes, there is no ‘one size fits all’ answer. To ensure the utterance of the 'D' word does not spell doom for a project, the parties must think about what issues and factors are likely to affect the project in question and tailor the dispute resolution procedure to suit its needs. Until consultants take this approach, they will continue to struggle to clean up the mess that inevitably follows when disputes arise on a project.

"For arbitration to provide value for money in resolving disputes, parties must consider how they would like to administer the arbitration at the contract negotiation phase."

Ms. Greer is an independent arbitrator at Arbitra, and can be reached at shan@smgreer.com.

In addition to thinking about arbitration precontract, parties must also understand how arbitration works in practice if they wish to take advantage of the process. Successful use of arbitration requires the parties to timely issue and respond to notice requirements and submit documentation to prove their case. This exercise can only be achieved if the parties understand the contract dispute resolution clause and maintain an internal dispute resolution procedure which preserves evidence in an easily accessible manner. While taking these pre-emptive measures will help the parties get the most value for money out of arbitration, this is not to say that arbitration is always the best method for resolving construction disputes.

Where disputes arise during the construction process, parties are often better served relying on less formal dispute resolution

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Safe Practice in the Workspace and at the Workstation

by Andrea P Quintyne, RPT, CES The primary reason for ensuring safe practice in the workspace and at the workstation is the management of the level of stress to which the employee is exposed daily. Stress is any change in the environment that requires your body to react and adjust in response. The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses.

The human body is designed to experience stress and react to it. Stress can be positive ("eustress"), such as getting a job promotion or being given greater responsibilities; keeping us alert and ready to avoid danger, known as the “flight/fight response”. Stress becomes negative ("distress") when a person faces continuous challenges without relief or relaxation between challenges. As a result, the person becomes overworked and stressrelated tension builds. This unrelenting state of “flight / fight” causes a series of physiological reactions in the body which culminate in a state of chronic inflammation.

concluding in many hours lost to sick leave or incapacity, with poor productivity outcomes, and inevitable financial losses.

Stress also becomes harmful when people use alcohol, tobacco, or drugs to try to relieve their stress. Unfortunately, instead of relieving the stress and returning the body to a relaxed state, these substances tend to keep the body in a stressed state and cause more problems.

Every workspace should function within the purview of the following check list:

Distress can lead to physical symptoms including headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood pressure, chest pain, and problems sleeping. All of these can precipitate chronic non-communicable diseases.

Research suggests that stress also can bring on, or worsen, certain symptoms or diseases. In addition, repetitive physical stress placed on specific muscle groups can result in irritation of the involved soft tissue with subsequent inflammatory changes, pain, and dysfunction.

If left unchecked, the negative effects of stress on our physical state will manifest with such intensity that we are forced to seek medical advice and treatment; this can become an elaborate expense that was not budgeted for;

Follow OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Association) Standards.

Focus on Training of all personnel: to improve the personnel’s understanding of, and their appreciation for the importance of their role in the business operation.

Prioritization of organization in the workspace: ensure familiarization with the workspace by all personnel, the physical layout of the plant should make provision for safe navigation of each employee; itinerary of personnel, itinerary of equipment, allocation of assembly points.

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Comprehensive Signage: emergency exit points, clarification of unidirectional walkways / conveyor belts, low ceiling/ door frame warnings, hidden steps, bathroom facilities, first aid stations.

Manual handling is defined as the transporting or supporting of a load, animate or inanimate (including lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying, or moving) by hand or by bodily force.

Adequate First Aid Station: the importance of having specific personnel identified for the responsibility of administration and maintenance of the emergency response equipment. These personnel should be trained to certification level and updated in the Basic Cardiopulmonary Life Saving protocols as stipulated.

Manual handling injuries are not solely caused by lifting or pulling something that is very heavy. Injuries may be caused by the number of times (repetition) you must lift or carry an item, the distance it is carried, the height you are picking it up from or putting it down; and any twisting, bending, stretching or other awkward posture you may adopt whilst performing the task.

Know Emergency Procedures, reinforced with regular drills.

Work-related manual handling injuries can have significant impact on the physiological stress levels of those involved. Employers may have to bear substantial costs, through lost production, sickness absence, wages/overtime and retraining to cover for the absent person, and potentially compensation payments.

The injured person may have trouble in job performance and there may be an impact on lifestyle, leisure activities, ability to sleep and future job prospects.

Care with Chemical Substances ensuring appropriate storage and disposal protocols.

The field of engineering requires specific personal protective equipment (PPE) to be worn on the jobsite / in the workspace, such as hard helmets, steel-toed boots, earplugs, eye goggles, gloves, and respiratory protective equipment. It is important that the appropriate equipment is always made available to the personnel, and an itinerary posted. One suggestion to address noncompliance, is to create an incentive-based mandate for comprehensive use of the required PPE. There are many aspects of engineering which incorporate physical endeavor, consequently, a special focus on manual handling follows.

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Assess the work environment: reduce the environmental stressors which can be controlled; ensure the adequacy of ventilation and illumination and OSHA stipulated operational dimensions.

Manual Handling Check List: Assess what needs to be done.

Decide what can be lifted safely, rely on mechanical aids wherever feasible.

Plan how employees will do the tasks in advance.

Identify ways of reducing the risk, review the physical status of the situation, consider the use of additional equipment for support.

Re-arrange the task, reconfigure the physical layout, approach the task from an altered and more stable position.

Assess the nature of the load; consider adjusting the size and weight of the load.

Acknowledgement: https://www.safetysign.com/safe-lifting-tips

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Workstation Ergonomics Personnel who spend prolonged and uninterrupted periods typing on their computers are at risk for repetitive strain injuries. The innovation of the sit-stand (variable height) desk has revolutionized workstation ergonomics.

Rules of Engagement at the Workstation In addition to the observation of the above OSHA stipulations, every operator should follow: 30:30:30 Rule: every 30 minutes, move 30 yards away from the desk for 30 seconds, for the relief of postural monotony.

20:20:20 Rule: every 20 minutes, move your eyes away from the computer screen and focus on an object 20 yards away for 20 seconds, to reduce eye strain.

Regular ergonomic stretches for the neck, shoulders, back, wrists and fingers throughout the working day.

Recreational Components Balance of daily activities is a critical component to stress management in pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. The incorporation of strength and flexibility routines with comprehensive cardio exercise five days weekly, is highly recommended by health professionals and substantiated by scientific research. There are a variety of safe exercise modes to choose from: Yoga, Pilates, Gravity, and Low Impact Aerobics, Tai Chi, Walking, Jogging (with care for lower extremity joints and your back), Swimming, Aqua Aerobics, Ai Chi, Cycling, Rowing.

References Mayo Clinic Family Health Book 5th Edition.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration Standards 2000. www.engineerlive.com The American Institute of Stress.

Caribbean Public Health Agency.

Ms. Quintyne is a registered physiotherapist and can be reached at apquin2011@gmail.com

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Construction Contracts in Barbados: A Closer Look at the FIDIC Form of Contract

by Leslie F. Haynes, Q.C. [A] DEFINITION OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT A construction contract can be defined as one where a person, commonly referred to as a contractor, undertakes, for consideration, to carry out works of construction for another person, commonly referred to as an employer or owner. The term ‘construction contract’ can be used in connection with the construction of buildings, offices, factories, contracts for major infrastructure, civil engineering works (such as roads, bridges and tunnels), mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. The term also includes contracts for complex stations such as power stations, airports and underground systems.

[B] TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS They are different types of construction contracts namely: (i) JCT. The Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) produces a range of standard contracts for the construction of buildings. (ii) ACA. The Association of Consultant Architects produces a form of Building Agreement which is designed to be more concise and flexible than some other forms. (iii) NEC. The NEC’s Engineering and Construction Contract comes with a set of standard clauses common to building projects as well as extra clauses, which allow it to be adapted to the specific circumstances in hand. (iv) FIDIC. The International Federation of Consulting Engineers produces a Conditions of Contract which is suitable where an engineer is employed as the agent of the client.

The law applicable to construction contracts has its genesis in the general law of contract.

Therefore, the basic tenets of contract law are applicable to construction contracts, i.e., there must be an offer, acceptance, consideration, legal capacity and legality. It is important to note that much of the supposed law or principles relating to construction contracts is, on analysis, found to be no more than the result of the interpretation of the relevant construction contract.

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Practice in the Local Construction Industry

(a) the 1999 Red Book: Conditions of Contract for Construction for Building and Engineering Works Designed by the Employer: The Construction Contract. The Red Book is intended for projects where the main responsibility for design rests with the Employer. The work done is usually quantified, with payment made on a basis of bill of quantities.

The main construction contracts utilized in the local construction industry are from[i]: (i) The Barbados Association of Quantity Surveyors; (ii) The Barbados Institute of Architects; (iii) The Joint Contract Tribunal (JCT) 1997 contracts; and (iv) The International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) Contract;

(b) the 1999 Yellow Book: Conditions of Contract for Plant and Design-Build for Electrical and Mechanical Plant and for Building and Engineering Works, Designed by the Contractor The Plant and Design/Build Contract. The Yellow book is intended for projects where the main responsibility for design rests with the Contractor. Payment is usually made on a lump sum basis, usually against a schedule of payments.

The FIDIC Form of Contract is now common in use in Barbados, and it is that form of contract that attention is turned.

[C] FIDIC FORM OF CONTRACT The FIDIC Form of Contract, has its roots in the Fédération Internationale des IngénieursConseils (“FIDIC”) organization which was founded in 1913 in Belgium by France, Belgium and Switzerland.

(c) the Silver Book: Conditions of Contract for EPC/Turnkey Projects: the EPC Turnkey Contract. The Silver Book is intended for Engineering Procurement and Construction arrangements. Under the EPC Turnkey Contract, the Contactor is responsible for the entirety of the works and design required to provide the Employer with a facility that is ready for operation at the “turn of a key”. and

The first standard form of contract published

by FIDIC was the first iteration of the 'Red Book' which was published in August 1957 having been prepared on behalf of FIDIC and the Fédération Internationale des Bâtiment et des Travaux Publics. Over time, FIDIC contracts have grown and developed into a suite of contracts which includes the publication of different books which are suitable for different contacting approaches.

Each book has a color scheme which has become a shorthand descriptor for the specific contract type.

(d) the Green Book: The FIDIC Short Form of Contract, published in its first edition. The Green Book is intended for engineering and building work of relatively small value. It is therefore suitable for relatively small work, or work that will not require input from specialist sub-contractors.

In 1999, a suite of FIDIC contracts were published following a review within FIDIC. These are as follows:

In 2017, eighteen years after FIDIC released the first edition of the rainbow suite of contracts, new editions were released. The new editions have introduced new forms, which have doubled their size being at least 50% longer, being more inclusive of procedure involving, for example, time limits and deeming provisions, with the intent of addressing potential delays caused by a party’s inaction.

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Commentators have proffered, that the new amendments in the 2017 editions have taken a softer approach to risk than that which appeared in the 1999 editions and that the amendments do not reflect the best industry practices. It has also been posited that the inclusion of the new definitions and 'step-bystep' procedures, is likely to result in greater administrative burden on the contractor and (in principle) additional costs for the employer.

FIDIC contracts have wide recognition by many international bodies and jurisdictions, these contracts therefore provide a globally accepted foundation that makes it easier to work across borders.

FIDIC contracts facilitate discussion and negotiations on the terms and conditions of the contract and, as a consequence, it will reduce the costs for the parties relating to the drafting and negotiation of the contract

[D] WHY USE A FIDIC FORM OF CONTRACT? The FIDIC guide: other FIDIC publications and published papers provide a broad explanation of the FIDIC Model Contracts and the particular provision of each clause. This means there is less disagreement and less risk of disputes between the parties.

At the outset of a project, parties are more concerned with starting work than completing the necessary contractual formalities.

However, it is imperative that parties to construction contracts agree to the terms of their agreement in writing. This is because a written construction contract provides a clear plan of the project, along with the duties of each party and how to proceed to carry out the work to be done.

[E] STRUCTURE CONTRACT

OF

FIDIC

FORM

OF

As John Murdoch and Will Hughes underline in Construction Contracts "the most interesting feature of FIDIC is the way that it is split into two parts: Part I of the conditions is of general applicability and Part II contains optional clauses specific to each project".

Some practical features of the FIDIC Form of Contracts are: FIDIC contracts can be applied to almost any project and have been tested and refined over sixty years.

Part I of the FIDIC Contract sets out the general terms of the contract, such issues as rights and obligations of each party, procedure for payment, variation, certification and dispute resolution.

FIDIC contracts are very clear from the outset as to the allocation of work-related risks between employers and contractors.

Additionally, the said contracts are detailed and cover a plethora of issues that can arise during the process of construction or that are impossible to foresee from day one and may affect the parties' interests at a later stage.

Part II of the FIDIC Contract is the conditions of particular application and is to be used to introduce project specific clauses, such as language of the contract, choice of law, the name of the person or firm appointed to act as Engineer or Employers representative for the project among other terms. The Appendix usually contains a sample of documents to be used for the procurement process.

FIDIC contracts include the best practices in the industry and the common issues and concerns that may be found in similar projects.

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In most FIDIC forms there is a default order of precedence for the FIDIC documents forming the contract, which is broadly similar for each Book. The order of priority of the documents are as follows:

[F] CONCLUSION It is advised that the standard form FIDIC contracts be utilized within the construction industry to regulate the relationships between the parties. These contracts are also used to help with title issues and prevent any potential problems with legal ownership and contract disputes as such issues are clearly outlined and agreed upon. This form of contract is also extremely beneficial as the inclusion of best practices ensures not only that the terms are comparable to the best in the industry, but it protects the parties against challenges and problems which may have not been foreseen.

1. The Contract Agreement 2. The Letter of Acceptance 3. The Letter of Tender 4. Part II – The Particular Conditions 5. Part I – The General Conditions 6. The Specification and Drawings 7. The Schedules 8. Further documents (if any), listed in the Contract Agreement or in the Letter of Acceptance.

The parties are allowed to rearrange the priority of documents or stipulate that no priority or order of hierarchy will apply to the contract. This can be done in the Particular Conditions.

[1] See Report prepared by the Fair Trading Commission entitled ‘The Construction Industry, An Examination of Its Imapct on Consumers’

Mr. Haynes is an Attorney-at-law at Leslielaw and can be reached at lhaynes@leslieslaw.net

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Introducing Girls to Engineering SIJ BAPE project July 25 – August 10 2022

by Eng. Joan Bourne

On July 25, 2022, The Soroptimists International of Jamestown (SIJ) and the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers (BAPE) launched a project aimed at introducing secondary schoolgirls aged 12 – 18 to various engineering disciplines and to a scientific approach to problem solving by mentoring them through a challenge. After reaching out to its community for volunteers to mentor the girls, seven persons responded from various disciplines – (coincidentally all females and including one architect!). The launch meeting on July 25, 2022 introduced the students and the mentors who gave very interesting presentations on their lines of work. This was followed by site visits to seven sites over the next 3 days to learn more about various projects within the disciplines.

Following the site visits, the girls were divided into six groups of four and given challenge projects to execute. They were coached by mentors from BAPE who provided technical guidance as well as mentors from SIJ who gave encouragement. Tasked with presenting their results before an audience, coaching on presentation skills by a member of the Toastmasters was also included.

Site visits and challenge projects 1. Traffic Engineering – Road Safety and Management Hosted by mentor Lorian Graham of MTW, the girls visited the Mangrove Four Roads junction in St Philip (previously a site of many accidents) to learn various road safety improvements that had been done, as well traffic management techniques which take into account road use, users, topography, etc.

For their challenge project, the girls translated these learnings to analyze, justify and make recommendations for road

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improvement along Queen’s St, Speightstown, St Peter, near Alexandra School. This involved designing a safe road environment for the nearby community considering the different ages and purposes of users and modes of transport, speed limits and stopping distances.

3. Colleton Townhouses

2. Oil and Gas Industry

Hosted by mentor Abigail Pilgrim, architect of APA Design Studio, the girls learnt about construction from the bottom up by visiting townhouses under construction at Colleton, St Peter and discussed various roof designs. For their hands-on project the girls built a model home according to a plan from readily available materials, such as cereal boxes.

They researched the pros and cons of different roof types, giving consideration to factors such as water removal, daylighting, ventilation, hurricane resistance, aesthetics etc., then selected, justified and built a suitable roof for the model.

4. Solar PV / Clean Energy

Hosted by mentors Kim Best and Andrea Edward, of NPC, the girls saw two distribution methods of supplying energy to customers – the underground natural gas distribution line upgrade project from Maxwell to Westbury Rd and the pilot project at Mt Gay Distilleries, St Lucy, where imported Liquefied Natural Gas is delivered to the customer and converted to natural gas onsite. For their challenge project, the girls created another source of gas from bio-recycled waste, by building a mini-anaerobic digester using plastic soda bottles, hot dogs and bananas, then measured, analyzed and displayed its output.

Hosted by Paula Agbowu QEH, the girls toured the QEH’s modern Energy Centre which powers the hospital and then visited the ageing incinerator where biological waste is disposed of. The challenge which the girls undertook was to research newer and “greener” technologies and equipment that can be used in a hospital waste management process. They then had to recommend and justify the most appropriate technology suitable for QEH and in keeping with Barbados environmental goals of reducing the carbon footprint.

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Presentation of projects for judging occurred on August 10, 2022. Four judges plus the mentors provided scores for the projects based on a rubric of multiple criteria including teamwork, passion, project execution and project delivery. Given the short timeframe of just under two weeks in which they researched, executed and presented their challenge projects, the girls ably met their learning outcomes and are to be congratulated on their effort. They were introduced to identifying a problem, researching and assessing various alternatives, selecting, justifying, implementing, documenting and presenting a solution – all part of an engineer’s routine.

Thanks to SIJ for conceptualising the project, the BAPE executive who wholeheartedly supported the project, Ian Graham (SIJ) and Reaiah Harris (BAPE) who were coadministrators, the mentors, judges, sponsors and especially the girls who participated. It was hot and gruelling at times, but well worth the effort and I am sure everyone involved acquired considerable learning from the exercise.

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SPONSORS PAGES - PG 1 PLATINUM SPONSORS

Kooyman

Lynch Insurance Brokers

Next Generation Electrical Inc.

GOLD SPONSORS

Eco Construction & Waterproofing Technologies Ltd.

TMR Sales & Service Ltd.

Utilicheck

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SPONSORS PAGES - PG 2 SILVER SPONSORS

Arbitra

Grantley Adams International Airport Inc.

Nirvana Construction Inc. BRONZE SPONSORS

Amron Services Inc.

Andrea P Quintyne Physical Therapy Inc.

PRO Construction Services Inc.

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ABOUT BARBADOS ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS The Association was conceived on 2 October 1964 at the Drill Hall where a Steering Committee held 4 meetings to develop the constitution. The first general meeting was held at the Marine on 19 November 1964 where Sir Frank Hutson was elected the first President.

Other Founding Members of BAPE include:

SOCIAL MEDIA Our social media pages can be found at:

F. Gill, G. Crawford, P. Browne, C. Evelyn, F. McConney, P. Cheeseman, T. Gill, J. Nelson, J. Connell, G. Heywood, M Roachford, Sir Frank Hutson, J. Rowe, E. Elliot, K. Johnson, H. Sealy, C.Emptage, L Johnson, D. Sinson, C. Evelyn, B. Mahy, A. Wason, A. Mail & L.Williams.

Previous Teaser Solution

The BAPE aims to keep its membership and the wider community informed with the latest body of engineering knowledge through engaging in seminars, newsletter articles and much more.

We also seek to represent the engineering community both locally and regionally through engaging in relevant topics of engineering interest.

The Association has been working hard to bring you its publications of various interesting articles,

videos,

webinars

and

interviews.

Check out our webpage – www.bape.org.

Answer: Tank 3

Interesting content found on our webpage include (click links below to view): Our Bylaws Our Code of Ethics

Brain Teaser

The list of our Membership

There are 50 bikes, each with a tank that holds enough gas to go 100 km.

Using these 50 bikes, what is the maximum distance that you can go?

Are you interested in joining? (see our BAPE Application form) We are pleased to showcase our Continuous Professional

Development(CPD)

platform

–

here. Members can easily review their event attendance record, their CPD performance summary, and generally manage their CPDs.

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Lt. Col. TREVOR BROWNE

Eng. PAULA AGBOWU

Mr. VINCENT JONES

Eng. ANDRE'A PALMER

PRESIDENT

1ST VICE-PRESIDENT

2ND VICE-PRESIDENT

TREASURER

Eng. JOAN BOURNE (Ret'd)

Eng. WILLIAM ASHBY

Eng. LORETTA WALKER

Eng. KENTON GAMBLE

SECRETARY

COMMITTEE MEMBER

COMMITTEE MEMBER

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Eng. REY MOE

Mr. AKEEM NURSE

Mrs. STACEY BURGESS

COMMITTEE MEMBER

GRADUATE OBSERVER

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

BAPE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 20212022

CONTACT INFORMATION Barbados Association of Professional Engineers Christie Building, Garrison St. Michael, Barbados t: (246) 429-6105 e: engineers@caribsurf.com www.bape.org

The Executive Commtiee wishes to thank you the reader for engaging with our content. We hope you enjoyed the newsletter and continue to be an active participant in other BAPE Activiities

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