Page 319 - Forensic Structural Engineering Handbook

10.8 CAUSES OF FAILURES

but who has never been directly involved in the supervision of a temporary structure, such
as the one which is being built, is not as qualified to do this work as one who has many years
of experience directly or indirectly related to the work at hand.
Concrete formwork for multistory high-rise reinforced-concrete buildings, for example,
requires many intricate details of bracing, posting, strutting, and tying so that they not only
will be adequate to sustain the load of the wet concrete and the embedded reinforcing bars
but also will be able to undergo the impact of motorized buggies and jolting of temporary
hoppers and to sustain the weight of workers, and will have the necessary clearances
required for cranes and hoists. Even after the concrete is poured, it is necessary to continue
proper supervision for such activities as winter heating, timing of stripping, and reshoring.
Improperly trained or inexperienced supervisors can endanger workers’ lives, and the
neglect of good practices can cause structural failures.

Inspection. The responsibility for inspection of the work of the contractor for temporary
structures is shared by three entities:

1. The temporary structure subcontractor himself whose own supervisors or engineers
must inspect the work as it is being installed, such as when a temporary structure con-
tractor is installing shoring. As the work is being placed, the supervisor and supervisory
personnel of the shoring contractor must be alert to all the requirements of safe and ade-
quate practice and be certain that shop drawings or permits that specified the methods
of performing the work are being adhered to.
2. The general contractor who is responsible for the entire finished structure, both tempo-
rary and permanent. The second required inspection is by the general contractor to see
that the installation by the temporary structure contractor is being performed adequately
and safely. The general contractor has to ascertain that the temporary structure is not
interfering with other portions of the work that may be a part of the permanent structure,
and that it is not interfering with other contractors or subcontractors who may be working
simultaneously or subsequent to the work of the temporary structure contractor. The
inspection will also cover such things as quality of the materials being installed, com-
pliance with plans, and specifications and shop drawings to the extent that they pertain
to the temporary structure contractor.
3. The party whose responsibility is to perform the ultimate inspection of the work. This third
required inspection may be made by either an architect or an engineer who has the inspec-
tion responsibility, or her or his designate. It may also be made by a government official
such as a member of a building department or government financing agency. This third
inspector is the one whose inspection must be the most comprehensive, painstaking, and
flawless. It is the responsibility of this inspector to be absolutely sure that all necessary
compliance is being taken with building codes, safe structural practices, OSHA require-
ments, and any other procedure for good construction which is a part of the contract, as
well as with the plans, specifications, and shop drawings for the temporary structure.
Unfortunately, there is often the tendency to concentrate on the permanent construction
to the detriment of the temporary works.
The inspection and enforcement of OSHA regulations are performed by regional
offices. OSHA inspectors are generally allowed to enter any construction site at reasonable
times and without undue delay. An OSHA inspector who is refused admission can obtain a
search warrant. Inspections can also be initiated by accidents, collapses, or employee com-
plaints. In addition to federal OSHA, compliance checks of construction sites are often
made by state or local agencies, most insurance carriers, and some private consultants. An
extensive discussion of OSHA’s roles and activities related to the construction site is in
Chapter 3 of this book.