SURVEYS	227
Constmctlonai Contracts
These contracts, whether they are for buildings of one kind
or another, or for constructional work connected with bridges,
tunnels, sewers, and reservoirs, need specialised treatment.
However, some knowledge of engineering practice on the part
of the surveyor is desirable, and he should be able intelligently
to read and interpret plans and specifications necessarily inci-
dental to such work. "
As in other third party surveys, the main feature to discover
is the degree of risk of injury to passers-by or users of the site
while the work is in progress. Some contracts may relate to
work executed in isolated places, as, for example, the construc-
tion of a new reservoir, with a comparatively light third party
risk, unless there should be the employees of other contractors
working on the same site. Other contracts may be carried out in
crowded areas, such as the laying of a new water main through
an important thoroughfare, or the erection or reconstruction of
a bridge without unduly limiting the existing traffic above and
beneath, as so often happens with river and canal bridges.
The method of procedure must be investigated in such a
manner that the underwriter, for whose benefit the report is
written, may visualise the work as it proceeds, although at the
time the report is made it may not have been commenced. Much
of the work may be delegated to sub-contractors whose compe-
tence for the work to be undertaken should be beyond dispute.
Such sub-contractors may give indemnities to their principals
for accidents arising out of their portion of the work and the
terms of such indemnities should be stated. If sub-contracts
have not been placed at the time of the proposal, an opportunity
may occur of insisting upon the insertion of suitable indemnities
in favour of the principal, thus reducing the insurer's ultimate
liability if the proposal under consideration relates to the risk of
the principal.
Employees: Number and Wages
As a rule, the number of employees and the wages paid give
the best indication of the relative extent of the risk, for each
additional person employed is a potential source of negligence.
Information under these headings is given in reply to a proposal
form question and the particulars there disclosed should be
checked, as far as possible, by observation.
When not given in the proposal form, divisions of the esti-
mated amount should be obtained as between wages paid to
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