Ass. Eng Interview Flashcards
Name your role under CDM.
Designer
Describe the role of a ‘Designer’ under CDM.
- Make sure the client is aware of their duties
- Eliminate foreseeable H&S risks and reduce or control risks that cannot be eliminated when preparing or modifying designs.
- Provide design information to the PD for the PCI & H&S File, also provide information to the Client and PC to help them produce the construction phase plan.
- Communicate, cooperate and coordinate with any other designers and all contractors
Can you describe the structure of CDM in the office?
TSP act as the Principal Designer under CDM, my manager, MF, takes on responsibility as the Principal Designer’s representative, and I act as a Designer.
Can you describe how your fee is calculated on PV?
(Salary costs + Overhead costs)
/
(Total hours - Overhead hours)
= Rate (£/hr)
What contributes to salary costs?
Salary, Pension, National Insurance
What contributes to Overhead costs?
Transport, Premises, Supplies etc.
What contributes to Total hours?
The total hours available to be worked
What contributes to Overhead hours
Leave, training, Sickness, Admin, Management
What is a trading account?
One of the two main budget options for staff costs, where the budget varies automatically with activity levels and income.
What is the other budget option for staff costs?
Fixed admin budget.
What are the pros and cons of operating a trading account?
Pros:
- Can respond quickly to changes in activity levels
- Costs of services are explicit and can be controlled
- Establishment is flexible
Cons:
- More complex to operate
- Requires activities to be measurable (timesheets)
Why does TSP operate as a trading account?
So that activities and costs can be measured against the private sector
Most appropriate funding mechanism for ‘in-house’ work when workloads and staffing levels are volatile
How are our projects funded?
How does this contribute to the decision to use a trading account
The capital programme forms nearly 70% of TSP work
This funding stream is project specific and volatile so there is a need for flexible workloads and staffing
What is the aim of a trading account?
To break even, making a profit means depleting the capital programme budget, making a loss means money is needed from elsewhere in Highways’ budgets
What is the difference between risks and hazards?
A Risk is the likelihood that a Hazard will occur, whereas a Hazard is something with the potential to cause harm.
What is the scheme risk register?
The scheme risk register is a record of PESTLE factors that may impact the delivery of the scheme. They are not typically risks to H&S, but risks that would impact the cost or delivery of a project.
What are PESTLE factors?
Political
Economic
Social
Time
Legal
Environmental
What are examples of risks that you might find on the scheme risk register?
- Lack of funding
- Insufficient time for delivery
- CPOs or land purchase
- Intervention by 3rd parties
- Changes to the Scope
- Supply chain issues
- Political or legislative changes
What is the design risk register?
A record of hazards and their associated risk that may occur during construction.
What are examples of risks you might find on the design risk register?
- Utility strikes
- Manual handling
- Noise & Vibration
etc.
What makes up a typical set of contract documents?
BoQ (or other)
Contract Data
Scope
Site Information
What does the BoQ folder contain?
BoQ Excel sheet and the MMHW Preamble
MMHW = Method of Measure for Highway Works
What does the Contract Data folder contain?
Contract Data part 1, Contract Data part 2 and Z clauses
What does the Scope folder contain?
Drawings, LCC SFHW, PCI document
What does the Site Information folder contain?
Any relevant site information, such as:
- NRSWA plans
- Core reports
- Tar/Phenol analysis
What is the purpose of the BoQ?
Defines the quality and quantity of works required to be carried out by the Contractor.
What are the benefits of a BoQ?
- Creates a low risk and low cost tendering environment encouraging competitive tenders as the risk is better defined.
- Allows for ‘admeasure’ of items following completion so actually quantities can be paid at the pre-agreed rates.
What is the purpose of the Contract Data Part 1?
Data from the Client to the Contractor:
1 General (options, client info, contact details)
2 Contractor’s main responsibilities
3 Time (start date etc.)
4 Quality Management (defects)
5 Payment (currency, intervals, interest)
6 Comp Events
7 Liabilities & Insurance
8 Disputes
+X options
What is the purpose of the Contract Data Part 2?
Data provided by the contractor on the 8 sections mentioned previously.
What is the purpose of the Z clauses?
Details additional conditions of contract
What is the Scope?
The work a Contractor is to undertake, together with any constraints to carrying out said work.
What is the Site Information?
Factual information about a site and its surroundings that describes its condition before work begins.
Why is estimating important?
- Improved budgeting and forecasting for client, they need to know how much a scheme costs so that they don’t overspend their budget, and so that they can profile and identify schemes that can be brought forward in case of an underspend, or put backwards in case of an overspend.
- Can identify risks and uncertainties
What is main option A in NEC4?
Option A - Priced Contract with Activity Schedule
What is main option B in NEC4?
Option B - Priced Contract with BoQ
What is main option C in NEC4?
Option C - Target Contract with Activity Schedule
What is main option D in NEC4?
Option D - Target Contract with BoQ
What is main option E in NEC4?
Option E - Cost Reimbursable Contract
What is main option F in NEC4?
Option F - Management Contract
Can you describe a time you had to make an engineering decision?
Martin Dales soft spots:
- Failed material excavated
- Excavate until peat is removed and clean clay is visible
- Lay geo membrane on clean surface
- Backfill with 6F5 material and a layer of type 1
- Minimal compaction to arrange particles
- Geogrid installed
- Two layers of unsaturated type-1 totalling 300mm
- Following inspection, install AC20 material
What was the thought process behind the soft spots decision?
I came to the conclusion, following input from the lab, that the soft spot was a result of heaving due to the moisture content of the peat. I made the decision to remove all of this peat and build the layers back up. Minimal compaction was needed until the bituminous layers as to not disturb the underlying ground and agitate the moisture content.
Can you tell us a time you completed an engineering design and how you did so?
B1518 Northgate pavement design:
- In house design following half day training
- Processed deflectograph data to produce graphs and highlight deflections exceeding 40 microns
- Conduct DVI on site
- Use DVI & Deflectograph data to decide upon core locations
- Use lab equivalencies spreadsheet and the NRSWA category of the road to determine the minimum treatment required
- Rationalise and produce treatment schedule on excel and then CAD
TSP alternative: Treatment rationalisation
Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult member of the public?
Describe Rookery Lane and the disabled PT lady
Describe a time you had to consider a range of engineering solutions
Channel blocks on Brant Rd:
- Option to remove them entirely
- Option to leave them in-situ in existing poor condition
- Option to profile plane them and overlay (finer glass geo grid)
Describe why you chose to profile plane and overlay the channel blocks on brant road?
They were no longer functioning appropriately, and the survey data I captured showed that we had the minimum longfall required for drainage and gullies at the required intervals, therefore leaving them in-situ was not ideal.
Removing them would have been costly and timely as the planer teeth would need replacing regularly, meaning several planers would need to be on site at once to ensure it was completed, and an additional mechanic to repair the machines.
Profile planing to 110mm and installing a geogrid overlapping the joint between the Ac20 material and the block meant that the surface would not be subject to reflective cracking, and a maintenance treatment of 100mm could be applied without disturbing the grid. These details were recorded for future reference.
What makes you eligible for this position?
I am academically qualified up to level 5 in an appropriate subject, and I will be graduating in 2026 with a 1st.
I am professionally qualified having achieved my EngTech last summer
I have 4.5 years of experience on a variety of schemes
I am the surveying lead in the office
I have a valid CSCS test and NEC4 accredited supervisors
What can you bring to this role which is different?
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills that make me adept at communicating with members of the public and councillors alike
- Surveying responsibilities which are not shared
- Hard work and a positive attitude
- Quick learner and can pick up technical knowledge or systems/processes very fast
How do you pass on information for learning to junior members of staff? (mentoring question)
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How would you go about mentoring junior/supporting junior members of staff?
Describe the process and purpose behind it, show them how I would complete the task and also show them an example I have completed. I would them ask them to perform it and advise them whilst they did so.
What does admeasure mean?
It refers to remeasuring the quantities and paying on the agreed rates. This is what a BoQ is, as some quantities are hard to define accurately.
What is a target cost contract?
A contract where a target cost is agreed ahead of the works, and actual costs are paid following completion.
What is a target cost contract?
A contract where a target cost is agreed ahead of the works, and actual costs are paid following completion.
