Supervising/Leading Work Teams Before starting the project, you should make sure your crew understands what is expected of them. Give your crew instructions, and urge them to ask questions. Be honest in your answers. If you do not know, say so; then find the correct answers and inform your crew. Establish goals for each workday and encourage your crew members to work together as a team while accomplishing these goals. Goals should be set that will keep your crew busy but also ensure these goals are realistic. Do not overload your crew or undertask them. During an emergency, most crew members will make an all-out effort to meet the deadline. But people are not machines, and when there is no emergency, they cannot be expected to work at an excessively high rate continuously.

While the job is underway, check from time to time to ensure that the work is progressing satisfactorily. Determine if the proper methods, the materials, the tools, and the equipment are being used. If crew members are doing the job incorrectly, stop them, and point out what is being done unsatisfactorily. Then explain the correct procedure and check to see that it is followed.

NOTE: When you check the work of your crew members, do it in such a way that they will feel that the purpose of checking is to teach, guide, or direct, rather than to criticize or find fault.

Make sure your crew members take all applicable safety precautions and wear/use safety apparel/ equipment that is required. Also, watch for hazardous conditions, improper use of tools and equipment, and unsafe work practices that could cause mishaps and possibly result in injury to personnel. Many young personnel ignore danger or think a particular safety practice is unnecessary. This can normally be corrected by proper instruction and training. Safety awareness is paramount, and it must be a state of mind and enforced daily until the crew understands its importance. When this occurs, you MUST NOT allow the crew to become complacent in safety matters. Constant training and awareness is the key; therefore, conduct safety lectures daily!

When time permits, rotate crew members on various jobs within the project. Rotation gives them varied experience. It also helps you, as a crew leader, to get the job done when a crew member is out for any length of time.

As a crew leader, you should be able to get others to work together in getting the job accomplished. Maintain an approachable attitude toward your crew so that each crew member will feel free to seek your advice when in doubt about any phase of the work. Emotional balance is especially important; you must not panic before your crew, nor be unsure of yourself in the face of conflict.

Be tactful and courteous in dealing with your crew. Never show partiality to certain members of the crew. Keep your crew members informed on matters that affect them personally or concern their work. Also, seek to maintain a high level of morale because low morale can have a detrimental effect on safety awareness and the quality and quantity of the work your crew performs.

As you advance in rate, more and more of your time will be spent in supervising others. Therefore, learn as much as you can about the subject of supervision. Study books on supervision as well as leadership. Also, watch how other supervisors operate and do not be afraid to ASK QUESTIONS.

TOOL KITS AND REQUISITIONS

Tool kits contain all of the craft hand tools required by one four-member construction crew of a given rating to pursue their trade. The kits kits can be augmented with additional tools to complete a specific job requirement. However, kits must not be reduced in any type of item and must be maintained at 100 percent of the kit allowance.

As a crew leader, you are authorized to draw the tools required by the crew. In so doing, you are responsible for the following:

Maintaining complete tool kits at all times

Assigning tools within the crew

Ensuring proper use and care of assigned tools by the crew

Preserving tools not in use

Securing assigned tools

TOOL KIT INVENTORIES

To ensure that the tools are maintained properly, the operations officer and the supply officer establish a formal tool kit inventory and inspection program. You, as a crew leader, must have a tool kit inventory performed at least once a month. Damaged and worn tools must be returned to the central toolroom (CTR)