ouvrier suiveur

21:31 Aug 22, 2020 

So, that's a banksperson/banksman in British English.

" In Irish and British civil engineering, a banksman is the person who directs the operation of a crane or larger vehicle from the point near where loads are attached and detached. The term 'dogman' may be used in Australia and New Zealand, while 'spotter' is the more common term in United States."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksman

www.blt999.co.uk/products.php?pg=160
Vehicle Banksperson Safety Training. Bankspersons are operatives trained to direct vehicle movement on or around site. The banksperson may also be responsible for the loading/unloading of lorries and directing the movement of other plant, such as controlling the movements of an excavator, by carefully monitoring the bucket for any obstructions or underground services.

20:50 Aug 22, 2020 

thanks for the feedback Tony!

08:52 Aug 18, 2020 

I noticed that when I searched, only Belgian results came up, so wondered if it was a Belgian special!

I've worked in pipework engineering, where there were welders and welders' mates, and also done some van-driving for a charity, where I had a driver's mate. "Mate" is definitely a bona fide job title in the UK.

06:54 Aug 18, 2020 

And here is the feedback from the customer:
"When a worker is working on a machine, the "ouvrier suiveur" is the person who stays on the ground and guides him in his work with a shovel, for example when there are cables, pipes, etc. to be avoided. This is a term only used in Belgium."

06:52 Aug 18, 2020 

DownUnder he would be called an "offsider", which translates "suiveur" perfectly IMO:
"Eliminate the risk - remove the offsider from the work zone – place hard barrier controls ƒ Substitute the risk – substitute ‘hands on’ activity by the offsider"
Maybe simply "assistant", as here: "OFFSIDER. Assistant. The term applies to a bullock drivers assistant who when his services are required works on the off or right hand side of the team." Possibly qualified as "plant offsider" if you're prepared to go the Aussie way !
Plant/Machine operator's assistant? If I were faced with the problem, I might invent "auxiliary groundworker" or "plant/machine auxiliary" in an attempt to attach the groundworker to the machine.
Another DownUnder term would be "mate", as in "driver's mate", the bloke who sits in the passenger seat but helps the driver unload, tie down loads, etc. That said, I see now that "Driver's mate" is a kosher UK term.
Accident reports refer to plant operators and coworkers. Coworkers who are victims of accidents are not necessarily "attached to" the construction plant in question, but may be.

06:51 Aug 18, 2020 

It may well comprise the responsibilities of a banksman or plant and vehicle marshaller :
"In Irish and British civil engineering, a banksman is the person who directs the operation of a crane or larger vehicle from the point near where loads are attached and detached. The term 'dogman' may be used in Australia and New Zealand, while 'spotter' is the more common term in United States.[1]"
"Plant and vehicle marshaller: A Plant and vehicle marshaller should be provided in a safe position to direct excavator operation and any pedestrian movements."
A banksman doubles as "groundworker" here: "To optimise the tonnage of active waste in 8 and 12yd3 builders’ skips, an excavator with banksman supervision (provided by the Groundworker) shall be used to compact the waste by placing the bucket onto the waste in the skip".
While a groundworker may be attached to an item of construction plant, he need not be, whereas "suiveur" implies that he is, necessarily.

06:50 Aug 18, 2020 

Here's some most helpful input from our much-missed expert former colleague:

"In earthworks, a suiveur - "SUIVEUR DE CONDUITE D'ENGIN" - is someone who works on foot and by hand in close proximity to - "attached to" - some item of construction plant, esp. excavators. In this example from Belgium they say he does the fiddly bits the machine can't do:
Pour l'un de nos clients, spécialisé dans la pose d'impétrants, nous recherchons actuellement un suiveur machiniste pour la région de Verviers. Vous serez chargé :
• De creuser à la pelle là ou les machines ne savent pas atteindre;
• D'aider à la pose d'impétrants.
• Vous avez une expérience en tant que suiveur machiniste dans le secteur de la pose d'impétrants;
• Vous êtes motivé et courageux;
• Vous aimez le travail extérieur.
The photo here says it all: https://www.paramaribo-formation.fr/post/les-suiveurs-de-con...

11:56 Aug 13, 2020 

I disagree and think that it is clearly a description of the person's role and that it's important not to overcomplicate it. The fact that it is in a H&S plan is irrelevant to providing a person's job title. The only other suggestion that I can think of for consideration is workers accompanying the visitors.

11:34 Aug 13, 2020 

If you read the question, you'll see that this is from an H&S plan, so it is not a description of the job role. Having spent time checking H&S plans and contractors' compliance with them, I am quite sure that the job role is not very relevant here, what is relevant is where and when the person would be working.

11:02 Aug 13, 2020 

Thanks BD. As it's a description of the job role, I don't think that the H&S point matters (it just says they have to wear particular clothing) so doesn't impact upon the term as such.

10:53 Aug 13, 2020 

"Helper" is an American term, I think we still use the (friendlier) term "mate" in England. However, I don't think that's right because this is a Health and Safety issue that applies to any worker following behind the trench digging plant, whatever their skill level or status.

10:06 Aug 13, 2020 

Hi Tony
Would a Construction Helper cover it perhaps?
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/what-does-a-construction-h... I read job ads in French with "suiveur", and went on to see Construction Helper and also Construction Field Assistant

16:09 Aug 12, 2020 

I agree with you that "ouvrier suiveur" means the worker doing whatever work needs to be done immediately behind the excavating plant. There might not be a specific term for this in English. I don't think that the term in any way relates to that worker's qualifications or lack of them. So, you could simply use something like "worker following behind" or "follow-on worker". Note that the need to wear PPE depends on when and where one is working or visiting and is absolutely unrelated to status or qualifications.

10:35 Aug 12, 2020 

All of the "suiveur" adverts I've seen are about someone who understands and has experience of working in the particular trade, but does not carry out the specialised part of the job, they follow instructions and do the preparation or assisting tasks. A couple of examples:

Définition du métier Suiveur soudeur (Ouvrier) : Ouvriers non qualifiés exécutant des tâches spécifiques de la mécanique industrielle, en dehors de ceux travaillant sur une machine-outil au formage, au découpage ou à l'usinage des métaux. Leur travail varie selon les cas : traitement thermique, peinture, contrôle, assemblage de pièces mécaniques. Ils peuvent travailler soit en atelier, dans le cadre d'un travail parcellisé en grande série, soit sur un chantier du bâtiment.

https://www.optioncarriere.be/jobad/befd051f4dd6f2b394042081...

21:05 Aug 11, 2020 

my understanding is that the workers, being without qualifications (unskilled) have to wear the same protective equipment meant for the visitors