Tag: Grant Thornton LLP

The devil is in the details. And sometimes, in the mirror. Here’s a senior on-site official with Astaldi, talking about some of the productivity challenges facing the project. The manager said when he came on site, it was taking 18 to 20 man hours to pour a cubic metre of concrete, instead of a more reasonable 10 to 12 hours. Astaldi had apparently bid on the project expecting it to take six to 6.5 man hours, something the official said could not be achieved anywhere in Canada, let alone in Labrador in winter. What’s most interesting is why; the notes, which are not a direct transcript but are taken from a recorded interview, spell out that part of the problem was labour wasn’t divided up well. A loader driver might be needed for four hours of work in a day, but would have to be paid for a full 10-hour shift. But the manager pointed out that the political requirement for local labour also took a toll. “I’ve got numbers that show we instituted medical for workers 3-4 months after I got there — I noticed on site there was a lot of unfit individuals — Not bad individuals — Good hearted, they need a job, but to build $2 billion dollars’ worth of work, (you) need skill. “Instituted medicals, and the last time I did the number we sent 6,900 people through medicals to see if they (were) fit and in that you have drug, alcohol and limitations — 1,700 failed — Your expectation when I’m hiring from a union is you’re going to send me (a) guy that’s fit, has skills to do the work — That’s all I’m looking for — I can take attitude — I like a little bit of attitude — Trained and can do the work — That’s not at all what you get — Until we instituted the medical.” What’s it all show?