Knowledge transfer continues to be a priority at Fulton Hogan Hiways.

Danny Poharama, formerly the Suva-based Fulton Hogan’s Knowledge Transfer manager, recently returned to conduct an intensive refresher course for grader operators and Depot Supervisors at the Samabula, Lami, Rewa, Korovou and Taunovo depots.

The weeklong exercise concentrated on the technical aspects of road grader operations, with an on-site demonstration by Mr Poharama at Waiqanake Road with the Taunovo crew.

“This is part and parcel of ongoing efforts by FHHJV to continually improve the skills base of the company and its employees, which translates into the quality of our work performance,’ said Mr Poharama.

He now oversees three major network projects in Auckland, New Zealand. Mr Poharama said the course emphasised taking grader operators back to the basics, which included pre-start checks, routine maintenance and overall care for their machines.

“Being a grader operator is more than moving gravel around. A grader is an expensive piece of equipment, so it is important that the operator knows how to identify and report anything that does not look right with the machine,” he said.

Mr Poharama said that because the work of grader operators can easily become routine, “it is important they remain excited about the contribution that they make.”

He said that the refresher course was a good opportunity to have one-on-one discussions with the Fulton Hogan Hiways grader operators and to gauge their current level of expertise, but he was “happy with the improvement in skills levels” over the two years since he was last here.

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