CONSTRUCTION
A STRONG FOUNDATION SHAMIEL KAFFOOR CONSTRUCTION FOREMAN KATULL PROJECTS
WHAT DOES YOUR PROFESSION INVOLVE? My function starts right at the beginning of the job and carries through to the end. It involves everything, from ensuring straight foundations, to setting out and working the levels to a certain height according to the plans. It’s about overseeing colleagues (I manage around 30 labourers), managing subcontractors, working on roof heights, and other stuff, right down to the finishes – details like tiles and cupboards.
HOW DID YOU GET TO BECOME A CONSTRUCTION FOREMAN? My father was a bricklayer and from when I was about nine years old I would spend school holidays on-site earning pocket money as a labourer. I didn’t like the effect the years of hard graft had on my father – he suffered back problems from all the physical work. He urged me not to follow in his footsteps, so once school was over I fell into tiling, which I did for a few years. While I was tiling, I witnessed countless struggles taking place between clients and builders. I noticed the lack of attention to detail, the
faults and poor workmanship. A few years later I was introduced to Yule (co-founder of Katull Projects) and he offered me a position as foreman.
WHAT TRAINING DID YOU DO? On-the-job training. Everything I know is thanks to experience.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD FOREMAN? You have to be strong, hard but not too hard. It’s about balance, about not being overpowered. I’m a soft person by nature and am a different person at work to who I am at home. The labourers need to know who’s boss. You definitely need to be a good communicator.
WHAT PARTS OF YOUR JOB DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST? I love my work, there’s nothing I don’t like. I love being outside, not sitting in an office and working in all sorts of different places. I’m happy working for someone else too, I prefer it to always having to look for more work and struggling to meet payments. As long as I can put food on the table for my family and take the kids to the doctor, I’m happy. I believe money is evil, it changes personalities.
WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE ABOUT WORKING IN CONSTRUCTION? Winter when it’s cold and wet is particularly challenging.
“It’s #AboutBalance, about not being overpowered.”
DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY WORKING IN CONSTRUCTION Every day something goes wrong and I feel responsible! Mistakes mean cost implications. You need to be constantly on the ball. The daily routine depends on the job and the stage it’s at. My work involves all aspects of the job.
WORDS OF ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT IN YOUR PROFESSION?
The same advice my father gave me: don’t do hard labour. Choose a trade and become good at it. Be humble, work hard, be prepared to learn and to take direction from others.
DESCRIBE YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS Challenging • Outdoors • Rewarding
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