This site uses cookies.
Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site,
while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used.
For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
French to English translations [PRO] Tech/Engineering - Construction / Civil Engineering / Class of employee on BE work site
French term or phrase:ouvrier suiveur
URGENT!
As far as I can ascertain, this is a certain class of employee, who seems in some way to 'follow' the plant digging e.g. a trench and do the next stage of the work.
It is only relevant in my text (a H&S plan) because these people have to wear certain protective equipment (hard-hats, etc.), and in the context, they are lumped together with "site visitors"
Here's the sole bullet point in which it appears:
" - Port obligatoire de vêtements de signalisation, d’un casque et de chaussures de sécurité pour les « ouvriers suiveurs » et les « visiteurs du chantier » "
Thank you very much, Althea; although I think this probably does cover a broader general category of worker, this is the term validated by the customer. 3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
Althea Draper United Kingdom Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 51
Grading comment
Thank you very much, Althea; although I think this probably does cover a broader general category of worker, this is the term validated by the customer.
2 hrs confidence:
shorer; (Can.) trench shoring labour/er
Explanation: ..... qualifié dans les poses d’égouts et de raccordements suggests no ordinary 'navvy' and certainly not a foreman in charge.
It would be odd if these workers were unskilled 'handymen'.
Example sentence(s):
TRAVAUX Nous recherchons pour entrée immédiate: Un ouvrier-suiveur qualifié dans les poses d’égouts et de raccordements. Un ouvrier de voirie qualifié dans la pose d’éléments linéaires, la réalisation de petites maçonneries, le raccordeme
Adrian MM. Austria Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 11
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks so much, Adrian, for your contribution. In this instance, I think this <i>would</i> be too specific, since they are only being generally referred to as a group of people, as opposing 'site visitors' and (by implication only) 'plant operators / drivers'.
description de la fonction En tant qu'ouvrier routier suiveur, vos tâches principales seront les suivantes:
- installer et approvisionner son poste de travail; - réaliser les opérations d'excavation; - réaliser la pose d'un réseau d'égouts; - réaliser la pose de conduites et de câbles divers; - réaliser la pose d'éléments linéaires de surface; - réaliser un revêtements de trottoirs et de chaussées; - poser la signalisation et le mobilier urbains.
vos atouts Vous êtes notre ouvrier suiveur idéal si:
- le pavage n'a plus de secret pour vous - vous faites preuve de rigueur dans votre travail; - vous respectez les normes de sécurité; - vous êtes un homme de terrain qui apprécie le travail en extérieur. https://www.randstad.be/fr/candidats/jobs/detail/job/man��uv...
writeaway Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 12
13 hrs
Reference: reference
Reference information: Puis-je travailler seul sur un chantier ? | Prévention BTP - En ...endirectavec.preventionbtp.fr › puis-... Translate this page Le fait de pouvoir travailler seul sur un chantier dépend de la nature des travaux à ... ou la présence d'un surveillant de travaux (ou suiveur) est nécessaire.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 13 hrs (2020-08-12 10:01:58 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
The only other entry, on Proz, was for "trackers"
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 13 hrs (2020-08-12 10:10:59 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
en creusant, je découvre un grillage avertisseur. la canalisationwww.dictservices.fr › 2017/02 › V2_... PDFTranslate this page limites de sécurité sous le contrôle d'un surveillant. Relèvent notamment ... En outre,*** la présence d'une personne exerçant une surveillance visuelle (suiveur)***est obligatoire : • en cas ... A L'ouvrier qui touche la benne preneuse. B L'ouvrier qui ...
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 13 hrs (2020-08-12 10:11:21 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
p.s. from what I have seen of job descriptions these people are skilled:)
liz askew United Kingdom Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 114
Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.
You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs
(or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.