Twenty years ago, when I entered this industry, I quickly saw the truth in the adage: A good contractor can make a bad process look good, and a bad contractor can make a good process look bad.
It sounds simple enough, and most people in the industry will nod in agreement. But accepting that adage as reality and hoping that it will all work out in the end threatens the continued growth of the trenchless technology industry.
When trenchless projects are unsuccessful for any reason — bad contractor or bad process — it reduces confidence in all contractors and processes, and causes some sewer system owners to ques-tion the value of trying something new.
At NASSCO, we believe one of the keys to a successful project is having knowledgeable inspectors onsite. How do we ensure that they are knowledgeable? We train them to understand the meaning of the specifications, to apply the various quality control and quality assurance tests during installation, and to be able to ensure that everyone is satisfied upon completion of the project.
The NASSCO Inspector Training and Certification Program is in its final stages of development, and it will do all of the above and more. Classes will be scheduled beginning in the first quarter of 2008. The training will educate inspectors in every phase of the process toward a successful project, and it will include some hands-on time with the various processes and equipment.
The first classes will specifically focus on cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) projects. Subsequent classes will cover fold-and-form, pipe bursting, chemical grouting, sliplining, and manhole rehabilitation.
You may ask: Who needs the Inspector Training and Certification Program? Everyone in this industry needs it to be a success, so that we can continue to expand the influence of trenchless technologies.
Specifically, sewer system owners need knowledgeable, certified inspectors to protect their interests, while consulting engineers need the ability to offer their clients the services of a certified inspector when in-house staff is unavailable or uncertified.
Be on the lookout for more information about NASSCO’s Inspector Training Program and classes being offered in the near future. If you have questions or interests in the program, please contact me at 410/486-3500 or e-mail director@nassco.org.
