How long have you been working in the pipeline industry?

Approximately 32 years.

What has been your favourite project to work on and why?

McConnell Dowell’s 56 km Braemar to Dalby Gas Pipeline, completed in 2006, was the favourite project of my career. The crew and foreman were available for me throughout the project and I couldn’t have asked for a more positive and pro-active team to work with. We overcame many challenges.

Article continues below…

Can you outline a typical day in the field?

After jumping out of bed and grabbing a coffee I head out to site to carry out our daily prestart toolbox meeting. Here we discuss targets for the day, safety concerns, and positive outcomes from the previous day.

Once out on site we prepare the pipe strings, making sure any coating repairs required have been completed to the quality procedure standards. Then we make sure the padding material has been placed in the correct position and all machinery is safely located. While lifting the pipe and lowering it into the trench, the team make sure that the pipe coating remains intact by using a jeeper (holiday detector). Once it’s in position, we shade the pipe and make ready for the backfilling team to complete backfill of the trench and reinstatement.

Who do you look up to in the industry and why?

John Bristow (JB), McConnell Dowell’s construction superintendant, is without a doubt the person I look up to most in the pipeline industry. He is always extremely loyal and fair. John’s experience and knowledge of pipeline projects ensures the projects turn out as planned.

Do you have any anecdotes of activities in the field?

While completing a pipeline in the 1980s, a specific kilometre point (KP) had to be reached by the welders at the end of line. As the welders approached the KP point and the end of the line, working frantically to meet their target, the construction manager decided to move the marker for the KP point further and we thought it was amusing to see the confusion in the welding team’s faces as the line never ended.