Identify Human Resources for Onsite Sanitation Construction

Element 2.2 – Identify required human resources from the contract document for onsite sanitation construction

INTRODUCTION

To identify human resources onsite sanitation correctly is essential for project success. You have cleared and secured the site. Now you need people. The right people. At the right time. With the right skills.

Many contractors hire workers randomly. They take whoever is available. This approach fails. A mason cannot do a plumber’s job. A casual labourer cannot read a drawing. Without proper human resources, your project will suffer delays, rework, and safety incidents.

This blog post covers Element 2.2 of onsite sanitation training. You will learn how to identify human resources onsite sanitation from the contract document. By the end, you will know every role required for a successful project.

 Before hiring your team, you must first learn to clear secure construction site sanitation.

PART ONE: WHY YOU MUST IDENTIFY HUMAN RESOURCES ONSITE SANITATION

Many contractors underestimate the importance of human resource planning. They assume workers are interchangeable. They are not.

First, skilled work requires skilled workers. A steel fixer who cannot read a bar bending schedule will place reinforcement incorrectly. The slab will crack.

Second, safety requires qualified personnel. A safety officer spots hazards that others miss. Without one, accidents happen.

Third, contracts specify minimum staffing levels. If you ignore these, you breach the contract. The client can deduct payments or terminate the agreement.

Therefore, learning to identify human resources onsite sanitation protects your project and your reputation.

 For labour standards in construction, refer to ILO Construction Sector Guidelines .

PART TWO: HUMAN RESOURCES ROLES

When you identify human resources onsite sanitation, you must know each role and its responsibilities.

2.1 Project Manager

The project manager leads the entire project. This person is responsible for budget, schedule, quality, and safety.

Responsibilities:

• Approve all work before it starts
• Communicate with the client
• Manage subcontractors
• Solve problems and make decisions
• Sign timesheets and payment certificates

Typical requirement: 5+ years of construction management experience. Relevant degree or diploma.

2.2 Site Engineer

The site engineer handles the technical side. This person interprets drawings, sets out the site, and checks quality.

Responsibilities:

• Interpret engineering drawings
• Set out the site (pegs and string lines)
• Check gradients and invert levels
• Inspect reinforcement before concrete pours
• Measure completed work for payment

Typical requirement: Degree or diploma in civil engineering. 2+ years of site experience.

2.3 Foreman

The foreman is the bridge between management and workers. This person is on the ground every day.

Responsibilities:

• Supervise all workers daily
• Assign tasks each morning
• Track attendance and productivity
• Report progress to the site engineer
• Enforce safety rules

Typical requirement: Trade certificate. 5+ years of construction experience. Leadership skills.

PART THREE: SKILLED WORKERS

Skilled workers are the backbone of your team. When you identify human resources onsite sanitation, you must include these roles.

3.1 Masons (Bricklayers)

Masons build walls, chambers, and manholes. They work with blocks, bricks, and mortar.

Responsibilities:

• Lay blocks for tank walls
• Build inspection chambers
• Construct manholes and access covers
• Apply plaster and render

Quantity needed: 2–4 masons for a typical septic tank project.

3.2 Plumbers

Plumbers install all pipes and fittings. They are critical for sanitation projects.

Responsibilities:

• Lay inlet and outlet pipes to correct gradient
• Install vent pipes
• Connect pipes to tanks and inspection chambers
• Pressure test pipe joints
• Install taps and valves (if plumbing included)

Quantity needed: 1–2 plumbers.

3.3 Steel Fixers (Rebar Workers)

Steel fixers place reinforcement. Their work is invisible after concrete pours. However, mistakes are permanent.

Responsibilities:

• Read bar bending schedules
• Cut and bend rebar to correct shapes
• Place rebar with correct cover
• Tie rebar with wire
• Inspect before concrete pour

Quantity needed: 1–2 steel fixers.

3.4 Carpenters

Carpenters build formwork (shuttering) for concrete. They also install timbering to trenches.

Responsibilities:

• Build formwork for base slabs and walls
• Install timbering in deep trenches
• Build roof structures (if required)
• Make wooden access covers (if specified)

Quantity needed: 1–2 carpenters.

3.5 Electricians

Electricians are needed if the facility has pumps, alarms, or lights.

Responsibilities:

• Install pump control panels
• Run cables and conduits
• Install high-level alarms
• Connect ventilation fans
• Test all electrical systems

Quantity needed: 1 electrician (part-time or call-out).

 For trade certification requirements, refer to National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) Kenya .

PART FOUR: SEMI-SKILLED WORKERS AND CASUAL LABOURERS

Not everyone needs a trade certificate. Semi-skilled workers and casual labourers perform essential supporting roles.

4.1 Semi-Skilled Workers

These workers have basic training but not full trade certification.

Examples and responsibilities:

• Helpers: Assist masons by mixing mortar and carrying blocks
• Pipe layers’ assistants: Hold pipes in place during jointing
• Concrete labourers: Shovel aggregate, operate concrete mixer

Quantity needed: 2–4 semi-skilled workers.

4.2 Casual Labourers

Casual labourers are unskilled. They perform simple, repetitive tasks.

Responsibilities:

• Digging and shovelling
• Cleaning the site
• Carrying materials
• Assisting any trade as needed

Quantity needed: 3–6 casual labourers depending on project size.

Important note: Casual labourers must still receive safety training. They must wear personal protective equipment (PPE).

4.3 Safety Officer

The safety officer protects everyone on site. Some contracts require a dedicated safety officer. Others allow the foreman to perform this role.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct daily safety briefings
• Inspect PPE (helmets, boots, gloves)
• Check timbering and trench supports
• Report incidents and near-misses
• Stop unsafe work immediately

Typical requirement: Safety certification (e.g., OSHA, NEBOSH).

PART FIVE: RESOURCE SCHEDULE FROM CONTRACT DOCUMENT

The contract document tells you exactly which human resources to provide. When you identify human resources onsite sanitation, read this section carefully.

5.1 What the Contract May Specify

5.2 Sample Resource Schedule Table

PART SIX: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES SUMMARY

When you identify human resources onsite sanitation, use this quick reference table:

PART SEVEN: LEARNING OUTCOME CHECK

After learning to identify human resources onsite sanitation, you should be able to:

CONCLUSION

Learning to identify human resources onsite sanitation transforms your project management. The right people, in the right roles, at the right time. This is not luck. This is planning.

A project manager without a foreman cannot supervise. A mason without helpers works too slowly. A safety officer without authority cannot stop accidents.

Therefore, read your contract. List every role. Schedule every worker. Then build.

✅ Internal link: After identifying your team, learn to mobilise construction plant and equipment.