Date: 30/1/2010
Today was the first Saturday that I worked after starting the apprenticeship.
0600 - Start work - Blowing cable
Ted worked with me and Liam almost 70% of the time. Both of us were so stressful trying not to make any mistake. Nevertheless we still got yelled at with no apparent reason. That's Ted.
1000 - When I reached the lunch shed, there wasn't anyone there. After that I realized that the shed was moved beside the church. No one told me.
1200 - Finished
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Day 7 - Hungry and tough day
Date: 29/01/2010
Today Ben took sick leave, so I was working with Liam.
0600 - Blew cables
There was a problem withone of the conduit - the string/cable couldn't get through to the other end. Both of us tried many means to get it through, but to no avail. Ted and Simo were there trying to get it through as well, still no avail. Finally we gave up. And that took us about 3 to 4 hours. Also, it costs us a blower - one of the motor burned.
0930 - Digging trench
1000 - Smoko
I was extremely hungry today. It started at 0800. Now I realized that it was extremely difficult to work without a proper breakfast. No energy even to carry a blower!
1100 - Looping cable using snake (Remember the blower was dead?)
1330 - "Monitor" the drilling of light pole's hole by the excavator - that means just watching
1430 - Finished
Ted asked me if I could work tomorrow. I said yes. Now, why did I say yes???
Today Ben took sick leave, so I was working with Liam.
0600 - Blew cables
There was a problem withone of the conduit - the string/cable couldn't get through to the other end. Both of us tried many means to get it through, but to no avail. Ted and Simo were there trying to get it through as well, still no avail. Finally we gave up. And that took us about 3 to 4 hours. Also, it costs us a blower - one of the motor burned.
0930 - Digging trench
1000 - Smoko
I was extremely hungry today. It started at 0800. Now I realized that it was extremely difficult to work without a proper breakfast. No energy even to carry a blower!
1100 - Looping cable using snake (Remember the blower was dead?)
1330 - "Monitor" the drilling of light pole's hole by the excavator - that means just watching
1430 - Finished
Ted asked me if I could work tomorrow. I said yes. Now, why did I say yes???
Day 6 - Tired after long weekend
Date: 28/01/2010
It was such a long weekend. I was feeling so tired to wake up at 0430 because during the off days, I usually slept at midnight and woke up at beyond 0800. Worse still, I got to work in Coles from 1700 - 2200. It will be a challenging day for me.
I rocked up at Adelaide Entertainment Centre at 0550.
0600 - Toolbox meeting
It seems that Ted's watch was 5 - 10 mins advance. I realized it when Ben rocked up at 0600, Ted yelled at him for rocking up 5 mins late. What a poor bloke!
We were also told that next week, we are starting at 0630. That's good.
0610 - Clearing up the basement (Ted complained that the basement was in a mess)
0830 - Lighting second fix
I was allowed to do a second fix for downlights. I was stripping some cables (4mm2 TA + E - UV protected) and connect to a 413QC (apparently QC stands for Quick Connect). Ben was hoping to do it slowly but I finished it all in no time.
1230 - Moving stuffs to basement
1300 - Lunch
1330 - Continued moving stuffs for Westys
1430 - Finished
It was such a long weekend. I was feeling so tired to wake up at 0430 because during the off days, I usually slept at midnight and woke up at beyond 0800. Worse still, I got to work in Coles from 1700 - 2200. It will be a challenging day for me.
I rocked up at Adelaide Entertainment Centre at 0550.
0600 - Toolbox meeting
It seems that Ted's watch was 5 - 10 mins advance. I realized it when Ben rocked up at 0600, Ted yelled at him for rocking up 5 mins late. What a poor bloke!
We were also told that next week, we are starting at 0630. That's good.
0610 - Clearing up the basement (Ted complained that the basement was in a mess)
0830 - Lighting second fix
I was allowed to do a second fix for downlights. I was stripping some cables (4mm2 TA + E - UV protected) and connect to a 413QC (apparently QC stands for Quick Connect). Ben was hoping to do it slowly but I finished it all in no time.
1230 - Moving stuffs to basement
1300 - Lunch
1330 - Continued moving stuffs for Westys
1430 - Finished
Friday, January 22, 2010
Day 5 - What a "tough" week...
First week of my apprenticeship ended today. What a "tough" week.Err... what I meant was really an easy week. And we'll have a long weekend which is 5 days off. When I was told that, I thought, Ben was trying to make a joke. No it wasn't, we are really going to have 5 days weekend. Monday and Wednesday are rostered days off for the month, and Tuesday is Australian Day. So, it's absolutely awesome!
0600 - Packing the container
I have never seen someone with such a hot temper. Ben overlooked some pallets that needed to be packed properly. Ted summoned Ben to the basement and showed him those pallets, by kicking on the items on the pallets and scolding "f**king blind" at him. I couldn't comprehend why someone could be so harsh.
1330 - Wiring "exit" light fitting. Tools and fasteners used: Drill, wall mate, wall mate's gun.
1430 - Finish
0600 - Packing the container
I have never seen someone with such a hot temper. Ben overlooked some pallets that needed to be packed properly. Ted summoned Ben to the basement and showed him those pallets, by kicking on the items on the pallets and scolding "f**king blind" at him. I couldn't comprehend why someone could be so harsh.
1330 - Wiring "exit" light fitting. Tools and fasteners used: Drill, wall mate, wall mate's gun.
1430 - Finish
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Day 4 - Got to go home early
There is something called "weather inclement" in work policy. Not every company will follow the policy as it is not compulsory. It means if the temperature got to 35 degC, all outdoor work should stop and workers shall work under shade. If the temperature go further to 37 degC, the workers will get to go home - paid. Boffa & Russo is one of those companies that follow the policy strictly.
0600 - Start work on trenches
I carried 2 100mm conduits on my shoulder and walked about 120m. That was pretty tough for the first time.
1130 - Arranged boxes in the container to make way for the cable drums. It was extremely hot in the container
1230 - Finish
0600 - Start work on trenches
I carried 2 100mm conduits on my shoulder and walked about 120m. That was pretty tough for the first time.
1130 - Arranged boxes in the container to make way for the cable drums. It was extremely hot in the container
1230 - Finish
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Day 3 - Pay Day!
Everyone, including me, if want Boffa & Russo to pay them, must rock up at the site to fill up the timesheet for last week. Otherwise, will miss the pay for the week. Wednesday is also a day for toolbox meeting.
0600 - Toolbox meeting
0615 - Dug trenches and laid conduits
1200 - Cut conduit and chased concrete floor
Conduits laid were not in centre with the light poles. Concrete floor was chased so that the conduits could be cut to the level of light poles base. I was not allowed to use the hammer drill.
1430 - Blowing cable for the conduits that were just cut
1630 - Finish
0600 - Toolbox meeting
0615 - Dug trenches and laid conduits
1200 - Cut conduit and chased concrete floor
Conduits laid were not in centre with the light poles. Concrete floor was chased so that the conduits could be cut to the level of light poles base. I was not allowed to use the hammer drill.
1430 - Blowing cable for the conduits that were just cut
1630 - Finish
Day 2 - Something has gone too far...
Date: 19/1/2010
To avoid late for work, I rocked up at the site @ 0540 to start work at 0600. It was a cold morning @ 11 degC. It's hard to comprehend such extreme weather sometimes, hot @ day and cold @ night. Nevertheless, it better to be cold than hot.
0600 - Leveled sand. Used wacker to compact sand.
0700 - Attended induction.
0800 - Laid and installed conduits.
1100 - Installed cable between conduits using blower.
One conduit got stucked with concrete. Ben used a metal and hammer to remove the concrete. Fortunately the concrete came out. Otherwise might have to remove the conduits from the concrete block. Phew...
1300 - Lunch time.
An incident happened. A bloke fell on the floor because someone made fun by pulling his chair when he was about to sit. The bloke hit his head and nearly passed out. Everyone in the lunch room was laughing, except me. I thought the joke was too much, too dangerous. Luckily the bloke was fine and didn't make a fuss about it.
1330 - Continue conduit installation and cover up trenches.
1630 - Finished work.
To avoid late for work, I rocked up at the site @ 0540 to start work at 0600. It was a cold morning @ 11 degC. It's hard to comprehend such extreme weather sometimes, hot @ day and cold @ night. Nevertheless, it better to be cold than hot.
0600 - Leveled sand. Used wacker to compact sand.
0700 - Attended induction.
0800 - Laid and installed conduits.
1100 - Installed cable between conduits using blower.
One conduit got stucked with concrete. Ben used a metal and hammer to remove the concrete. Fortunately the concrete came out. Otherwise might have to remove the conduits from the concrete block. Phew...
1300 - Lunch time.
An incident happened. A bloke fell on the floor because someone made fun by pulling his chair when he was about to sit. The bloke hit his head and nearly passed out. Everyone in the lunch room was laughing, except me. I thought the joke was too much, too dangerous. Luckily the bloke was fine and didn't make a fuss about it.
1330 - Continue conduit installation and cover up trenches.
1630 - Finished work.
Day 1 - Late for Work
Date: 18/1/2010
I was assigned to work with PSG Boffa & Russo and scheduled to rock up at Adelaide Entertainment Centre @ 7am for induction. Unfortunately, I was given a wrong contact by Peer and was at the wrong entrance. So I was late for the induction and therefore not inducted. The site foreman, Ted was quite pissed. Nevertheless, I was still allowed to be remained in the site. I met with Simo - the electrician and Ben - the 3rd year apprentice.
0820 - Laying and installing conduit into trench. Learn how to cut conduit with other means - like using catenary cable.
1030 - Removes concrete.
1200 - Back to PEER for Boffa & Russo's online induction.
1330 - Finish and didn't go back to site.
Interestingly, the workers in a construction site have a common habit, not dissimilar to those in Malaysia, they like to make sentence with vulgar words. Especially Ted, the F word appeared in almost each sentences that came out from his mouth. He meant no harm, just his way of talking.
I was assigned to work with PSG Boffa & Russo and scheduled to rock up at Adelaide Entertainment Centre @ 7am for induction. Unfortunately, I was given a wrong contact by Peer and was at the wrong entrance. So I was late for the induction and therefore not inducted. The site foreman, Ted was quite pissed. Nevertheless, I was still allowed to be remained in the site. I met with Simo - the electrician and Ben - the 3rd year apprentice.
0820 - Laying and installing conduit into trench. Learn how to cut conduit with other means - like using catenary cable.
1030 - Removes concrete.
1200 - Back to PEER for Boffa & Russo's online induction.
1330 - Finish and didn't go back to site.
Interestingly, the workers in a construction site have a common habit, not dissimilar to those in Malaysia, they like to make sentence with vulgar words. Especially Ted, the F word appeared in almost each sentences that came out from his mouth. He meant no harm, just his way of talking.
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