60 seconds on site with Jamie Preston, construction director, Pace Installations
00:00 21 Sep 2009
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60 seconds on site with Jamie Preston, construction director, Pace Installations
What site are you working on at the moment?
The most interesting is probably Buckinghamshire New University, High Wycombe, where we’re installing a variety of specialist acoustic wall and ceiling panels.
What is the best building site you have ever worked on and why?
The commercial refurbishment of Walker House at Exchange Flags in Liverpool. It was a real privilege to work on the regeneration of such an historic building and help return it to its former glory.
And the worst?
I wouldn’t say it was the worst but the most demanding job I have worked on was News International printing press, Broxbourne. Walking from the site offices to the furthest point in the building took about 30 minutes, which meant forgetting a drawing or sketch was a big problem Ð everything had to be extremely planned.
What is the most dangerous thing you have ever seen someone do
on site?
Dangerous things do happen but generally construction sites are getting safer as the profile of health and safety continues to be raised.
What’s the most frequently broken health and safety rule?
Smoking on site. It is hard for the main contractor to continually police every area of a site, especially projects on a large scale.
What are the three most important elements of a well-run, happy site?
Effective organisation of materials, co-ordination of labour and working with people who enjoy their job. Good morale on sites is very important for all aspects of the job.
What’s the most memorable experience you have had on a construction site?
I always remember handover days as everybody is frantically working to make the site look perfect, plus there’s always a great sense of satisfaction when you look at the end result after all the hard work has been done.