Not your typical 9-to-5 job
By Eric Widholm typical trip to Oregon for Ayres Associates ’
A structural inspectors is not easy .
A two-person crew ( lead inspector and an assistant inspector ) usually inspects the structures in geographic groups during five or six trips made each year . The number of inspections performed each day depends on size , complexity , condition , and location of the structures . Inspectors work 10- to 12-hour days and six- to seven-day weeks on trips that can last two or three weeks at a time .
Proper scheduling of inspections is a timeconsuming task but is invaluable when fieldwork begins , said Rick Maslyn , supervisor of Ayres Associates ’ structural inspection group . The yearly inspection schedule is mapped out beforehand , categorized by the month the bridge is to be inspected , and then further broken down to specific days . Inspections must be completed in a compressed time frame outside of the state ’ s rainy season , which generally runs from November to May , leaving just a handful of summer and fall months to complete the work .
“ The follow-up reporting also takes many hours and is just as important as the actual field inspection ,” Maslyn said . “ Besides being a federal and state requirement , these reports are the basis of the bridge owners ’ work plan for upcoming years .”
Crews are on the move from before sunrise to early evening in a company truck using a GPS-enabled
laptop to locate bridge sites . They inspect as many bridges as possible in a day . Inspections can be more timeconsuming when special access equipment is needed , such as an under bridge inspection vehicle with an extendable arm and bucket used to access the underside of high-level bridges or rope climbing to reach higher places .
Safety is paramount in all inspections – no matter how large or small the bridge , Maslyn said . Inspectors need to always be aware of their surroundings and be prepared , he said , “ and you can never be too careful .”
Inspectors often encounter steep slopes or slippery conditions . Thorny wild berries and poison oak are common around most bridges in the four counties comprising Ayres Associates ’ inspection area . Each day starts with a “ tailgate ” safety meeting to discuss known hazards and potential hazards identified and mitigated during the preparation stage .
“ Ayres Associates takes pride in the work we do out here , like we do for all our inspections nationwide ,” Maslyn said . “ And it ’ s always a comfort to know that your clients – like the Oregon DOT – put as much passion and dedication into their work as you do to ensure structures are safe for motorists and others who use them .”
From upper left : Inspectors use a GPS-enabled laptop to schedule and locate structures . Safety is the top priority for inspections . A few obstacles inspectors encounter include prickly wild berries , poison oak , and barbed-wire . Traffic control also is crucial with the many vehicles frequenting some areas .
18│TRENDS