NO STOPPING THIS DAM LINING TEAM

LOCKDOWN FOLLOWING THE Covid-19 outbreak in New Zealand could not have come at a worse time for IS Dam Lining Ltd, with 30 farm dairy effluent ponds to be lined with HDPE plastic and welded.

Dam lining crews stood down as Lockdown Level 4 came into force, and the company regrouped to consider their best next move. Staff with health concerns would clearly be unable to work.

Technical sales manager Brook Newson says the company had to adapt quickly to the new operating environment; after a stand down period of a few weeks, IS Dam Lining became an accredited company under the Ministry of Primary Industries Essential Services protocols.

“We had the right infrastructure and communication in place to ensure that we could operate under the new and very changed circumstances,” he says.

Dam lining technicians formed ‘work bubbles’, followed stringent accommodation and on-site Covid rules as they sought to ensure ponds met their consent requirements. Communication key during lockdown – from left IS Dam Electronic tracking of vehicles Lining managing director Adrian Mannering, commercial meant team movements could manager Sarah Johnson, technical sales Brook Newson be easily be recorded; and and operations manager Andrew Taylor. Commercial Manager Sarah Johnson put in a Herculean effort to complete outstanding jobs to catch up ensure materials were delivered to site with pandemic related delays. prior to the crew’s arrival. Trucking and “It all came down to communication, crew movement protocols became part of first with MPI at the time of the audit, to the daily routine. the client, earthworks, accommodation

Two landfills were completed after providers and freight companies, he says. Easter, then the teams began in earnest to “Being a small agile team, we were able catch up for lost time, and by late June, 50 to ensure solid workflow to complete a ponds had been completed in the North range of jobs from herd homes, to frost and South Island.

Operations manager Andrew Taylor says the crews sacrificed time with family to complete outstanding jobs to catch up with pandemic related delays.

“It all came down to communication, first with MPI at the time of the audit, to the client, earthworks, accommodation providers and freight companies, he says.

“Being a small agile team, we were able to ensure solid workflow to complete a range of jobs from herd homes, to frost protection ponds, water retention ponds for wind farms and of course farm dairy effluent ponds,” he says.

Communication key during lockdown – from left IS Dam Lining managing director Adrian Mannering, commercial manager Sarah Johnson, technical sales Brook Newson and operations manager Andrew Taylor.