June 2009

A Ten Step Guide to Becoming an
Exceptional Underwater Structure Inspector
by David R. Reser, PE, President, Infrastructure Engineers, Inc.

Over the course of my 22 year career I have had the opportunity to work with some of the best commercial divers and structural engineers in the underwater bridge inspection industry.  I have tried to learn from each person I have worked with, and teach young engineers when given the chance.  What I have found is that the best underwater structure inspectors have some of the same characteristics.  I believe each of these exceptional underwater inspectors share similar education and experiences, which gives them a competitive edge and puts them at the top of their game.  This guide will tell you how to improve your underwater bridge inspection skills and become an exceptional underwater bridge inspector:

Step 1:  Find a Mentor – If your firm does not have a formal mentor program, find a successful underwater inspector you respect and ask them to be your mentor.  They should be available to answer questions about diving procedures, equipment, and underwater inspection techniques.  They do not have to be in your firm, but it would sure help.

Step 2:  Get Good Diver Training – I am not going to give you a magic amount of training here.  ADCI has minimum standards, and that is generally a good place to start.  There is a group of engineers in our industry that are attempting to reduce training requirements through ASCE.  As a member of ASCE, I do not support this effort.  I am still trying to figure out why an engineering organization is trying to develop a standard to train divers.  Good training pays for itself the first time you are in life threatening situation (as a diver or supervisor).  I have been diving or supervising divers on six occasions when life threatening situations developed (both as an Army diver and civilian commercial diver).  My training allowed me to deal with the emergency safely.  Don’t take a shortcut.

Step 3:  Get Good Diving Equipment – This doesn't mean buy the most expensive.  However, you must be completely confident in your equipment and your ability to use it if you are going to be an exceptional underwater inspector (see Step 2 above).  If you are worried about your survival you won’t be concentrating on your inspection.  You owe this to your client and your fellow employees.  If your employer does not consider good equipment a priority, find a new employer.

Step 4:  Get As Much Bridge Inspection Training as Possible – Take all the NHI bridge inspection and scour classes you can.  Participate in Web-based training.  Attend technical conferences. Read articles and books on the subject. 

Step 5:  Learn to Write Technical Documents –Engineering schools need to do a better job teaching technical writing.  If this is your weakness, you can take some good online courses to improve your skills.  Your supervisors will notice, and it will give you an advantage over other engineers.

Step 6:  Be a Good Teammate – Short of being a professional athlete, there are few professions that require people to work effectively together like commercial diving does (yes, underwater structural inspection is commercial diving, refer to the OSHA commentary if you don’t believe me).  Every time you enter the water, your life is literally in the hands of another person on the surface.  There is no room for personal agendas and turf wars on the dive station.  Your self-serving ways may fly under the radar for awhile, but you need to be a good teammate to be successful in the long term.

Step 7:  Take Care of Your Body – Commercial diving is physically demanding.  Underwater structure inspection can be the most physically demanding segment of the commercial diving industry (please don’t send me hate mail, saturation divers).  I get to spend less time in the field now that I am more “mature”, and have corporate responsibilities.  I try to stay physically fit so when I do get to go to the field, I can show the young engineers “how it is done” and NOT injure myself. 

Step 8:  Be Conscientious in Your Work -  As the underwater inspector, you are the only person looking at a critical component of a structure.  The client and public are relying on you.  Be honest, do your job the right way, admit when you make mistakes, and correct them.  Never try to cover up a mistake.  I immediately fire inspectors that cover up mistakes (only had to do this a couple of times, and I don’t like it).  I always appreciate and respect inspectors that admit when they make a mistake.

Step 9:  Be Open Minded to New Technology – I have seen a number of major technological advances occur in the underwater structure inspection industry over the past 22 years.  I have resisted some, which was a mistake.  Resisting change or a new technology will damage your competitive advantage.  One of your competitors will figure out how to use the technology to beat you. 

Step 10:  Be Patient - Young inspectors always want to advance quickly.  To truly become an exceptional underwater inspector, you need to inspect a lot of different structures in many different environments.  These experiences are critical and only come with time.  If you’re good, you will advance, but as I mentioned, it takes time and numerous types of inspections to become an exceptional underwater inspector.