CEMP-E/CECW-E
EI 01D010
1 September 1997
other alternatives such as schedule duration change
CHAPTER 6
instead of multiple shift work and discuss the impact
LABOR PRODUCTIVITY
of both options with the project manager.
6-1. General
6-3. Civil Works Program Specific
Requirements
Estimating labor productivity is subject to many
diverse and unpredictable factors. There is no
Civil works projects are normally heavy equipment
substitution for the knowledge and experience of the
oriented, and care should be used based on the tasks
cost engineer when estimating labor productivity.
performed to insure reasonable production rates are
For some types of work, the task productivity of crew
used. Operational requirements for pumping on
members such as equipment operators, helpers, or
dredges is unique and appropriate details are covered
oilers is determined by the productivity of the
in chapter 15 for preparing dredge estimates.
equipment. For some labor based crews, the task
productivity of craftsman such as carpenters, steel
6-4. HTRW Program Specific
workers, and masons may be based on average
Requirements
experience in the UPB, tempered with the experience
of the cost engineer, historical records, or other
appropriate reference manuals.
a. Labor productivity on an HTRW remedial
action project will generally be lower than that of
6-2. Productivity Adjustment
conventional construction due to the more stringent
health and safety requirements associated with
Considerations
HTRW projects. One factor decreasing productivity
is the restricted mobility of the worker due to the
a. The complexity of the variables affecting
protective equipment and clothing which must be
productivity makes it difficult to estimate a
worn. Heat stress on the worker due to the protective
production rate. Therefore, production rates should
gear will be a factor reducing productivity under
be based on averaging past production rates for the
certain climatic conditions. The amount of physical
same or similar work. The cost engineer must
exertion required by a particular task may be
incorporate particular job factors and conditions to
classified in the range of light work to heavy work.
adjust historical data to the project being estimated.
Thus, production rates need to be estimated
Other sources for production rates include reference
considering the classification of the work task, the
manuals, field office reports, construction log books,
climatic conditions, the restricted mobility, and other
and observation of ongoing construction.
relevant factors in conjunction with the level of
personal protection required for the task. These
b. The labor effort needed to perform a
considerations will determine the amount of break
particular task varies with many factors, such as the
time a worker needs based upon the task being
relative experience, capability, morale of the
performed. In addition to break time, other factors
workers, the size and complexity of the job, the
contributing to nonproductive time on a HTRW
climatic and topographic conditions, the degree of
remedial action project include safety meetings,
mechanization, the quality of job supervision,
suiting-up, suit removal and personal
amount of similar task repetition, and the existing
decontamination, cleanup, and air tank change
labor-management agreements and/or trade
unless noted otherwise. The production rates
practices. The effort from these labor efficiency
(output) listed in the UPB are normal construction
factors and work practices that exist in the project
rates which do not take into account the non-
locality must be considered in each productivity
productive time experienced on HTRW projects due
assignment.
to health and safety requirements stated above. Thus
the UPB production rates will typically need to be
c. The effect on worker productivity decrease
reduced on an HTRW project.
from long periods of overtime is included in figure
6-1. Several tables and averaging charts have also
b. The following are typical personal protection
been developed by private industry to show this
requirements depending on the level of protection
effect. The cost engineer should carefully consider
6-1
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