Authority and Duties of Inspectors

Article 5.10, “Inspection,” of the
Standard Specifications
 outlines Department inspector authority and responsibilities. Inspectors are authorized to safely inspect all the work, and materials furnished. An inspector must thoroughly understand the contract, the relevant plans, specifications, special provisions, and the work schedule. This enables the inspector to inspect and judge the quality and thoroughness of the contractor’s work in comparison to the contract.
Inspector duties may include, but are not limited to:
  • reporting the progress of the work as compared to the project schedule and contractor performance to the Engineer
  • Ensuring all materials used on the project are approved and listed on the appropriate Material Producer List, or have been tested as shown on the Material Verification Report prior to installation
  • notifying the Engineer and contractor when materials furnished or work performed fail to fulfill contract requirements
  • communicating to the contractor all problems in a timely manner or otherwise providing relevant information to the contractor to assist in the progress, safety (to workers and the public), and quality of the work
  • documenting all matters related to the prosecution of the contract and the progress of the work as required for payment through sufficiently detailed Daily Work Reports (DWRs)
  • acting as the authorized Department representative to ensure the contractor is following the project's plans, specifications, and special provisions and that any pay items are completed as detailed therein, and
  • verifying that items of work needing attention by the contractor are not be paid at 100% until completed in a satisfactory manner. Deny or reduce payment for non-compliance with plans, specifications, and provisions.
When a dispute arises, the inspector may reject materials or suspend work while the Engineer makes decisions on the issue.
The inspector must not act as foreman, work for the contractor, or interfere with the management of the work. The inspector must not tell the contractor how to do the work unless specified in the contract.