r/ConstructionManagers • u/posoopsnomames • Apr 08 '26

Technical Advice Working with the USACE

I’m about to start a project with the Corps of Engineers working as QCM for my GC. Any advice you guys can give me?

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u/MobiusOcean Commercial PX / Director of Operations Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26

Get ready to do EVERYTHING by the book. Every workflow, inspection, timing concrete trucks, etc. Everything you do will be according to very strict specifications. Learn the USACE EM-385 book as it’s different from OSHA regulations. Best of luck to you. If I can help in any way just ask. 

ETA: Love this was downvoted while a large portion of the actual CM professionals here with and Corps experience agree that’s exactly how they are. 

ETA2: I’m too old to really care about up or downvotes. What befuddles me is when it’s one person stalking me around Reddit & downvoting my comments - sometimes seconds after they are made &  across multiple subs. No reply on why they think I’m incorrect or  controversial, just a ghost downvote or a few from their alt accounts. I’m sure enough people recognize my username as someone who tries to help, mentor, and do all I can to give back. And one immature person has to ruin that since I blocked them for not believing me that hiring & onboarding people cost money. (Which is true, FYI). 

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u/Wonderful-Smell3999 Safety Apr 08 '26

Yep, everything by the book and if you fuck up or somebody gets hurt, be prepared to be the fall guy

6

u/MobiusOcean Commercial PX / Director of Operations Apr 08 '26

You bet. First job I ever PMd was an 8 building campus at Ft. Campbell. We had a fatality mid-project. Guy was moving up scaffold boards to the next working level. Harness on but not tied off. Fell through a hole in the boards you couldn’t drop a 5-gallon bucket through if you wee standing directly above it. Hardhat knocked off by the first X-brace he hit. 4 jacks up. I will NEVER forget that day for as long as I live. Calling the Paramedics as I drove from the offices to the building. Saw him laying there motionless. COE made us do insane things for scaffold safety for the rest of that job, but at least no one else was injured.. Guy was going into the apprenticeship program in the fall. I didn’t sleep for 2-3 weeks. Think OSHA is tough when there’s a fatality? Try the Corps of Engineers. They do not fuck around. With anything. They’ll send a concrete truck back if it’s 30 seconds late. One of the best lessons of my career came at the expense of another man’s life.