Insurance Property Damage Claims Assessment Consulting

Beca involvement questioned

The structural engineers investigating stairwell collapses in a multi-storey Christchurch building also worked for that building's property managers.

The Department of Building and Housing (DBH) commissioned consulting firm Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner to investigate stair collapses in the 18-storey Forsyth Barr House during February's earthquake.

The report, which was released yesterday, found that the damage observed and reported after September 4 and Boxing Day last year would not have made the stairs more vulnerable to collapse in February.

However, the report reveals Beca assessed the Forsyth Barr building on September 5 for property managers Colliers International Property Management, raising a potential conflict of interest.

Auckland structural engineer John Scarry, who has been vocal about New Zealand's declining engineering standards, questioned the situation, which he said "does sound a little bit too close".

"If there was a conflict of interest, there are other people who could have done it."

Civil Defence initially gave the Forsyth Barr building a red placard, which meant it was deemed unsafe.

However, Beca engineers revised that to yellow, restricting access, and after further investigating the stairs and propping a vehicle ramp, the building was given a green placard, meaning the building had no apparent structural or other safety hazards.

The September 5 assessment stated there was "severe" stairs damage, and handwritten notes said the stair supports needed to be investigated.

A typed report noted "significant" stair deformation, but they still had "sufficient capacity for normal use".

It was recommended that loose debris should be cleared from the seismic separations at the base of all stairs.

Beca's report for DBH said the seismic gaps, which allow stairs to move on their supports during an earthquake, "could have been filled with construction debris, mortar and/or polystyrene", which meant they were "compromised".

ISO 18001 Improves Business Environmental Safety

In spite of all precautions, work-related accidents and health issues are fairly common. Not only do they commonly injure employees, but can often generate a chain-reaction of mayhem affecting nearly all levels of a corporation. They can mean lost work hours and subsequent production drops, compensatory damages and fines, and the loss of employee trust and sometimes even potential customers. ISO 18001 was created to help any business to control its health safety and occupational risks, and to implement a management and control system that is a good fit with current company regulations.

This regulatory system promotes standardized safety procedures within any workplace organization. It helps companies reduce the need for forcibly enacted legislative controls, and reduces the potential for accidents ultimately leading to a decline in overall performance. Rather than simply generating more bureaucracy, implementation of these regulations usually has a very positive effect in the workplace.

The benefits are often measurable. There is a reduced rate and chance of accidents, which lowers employee absentee rates, while minimizing the chance of incurring penalties or citations from safety violations and infractions. The cost of insurance premiums often declines, and the overall corporate image presented to the world usually improves. Even business-to-business, an excellent safety standard means a better reputation.

The basic requirements must be met, however, in order to cope with any potential problems that may accompany a current assessment and health management system. Finding exactly what these requirements are can often be accomplished either by hiring a specially focused consulting firm, or by promoting internal training leading which can lead to official certification. When ultimately in place, property damage is often reduced by those requirements, and compensation claims usually drop.

Regardless of a company's size, the International Standard For Quality Management Systems can help spell out new internal regulations. Occupational risks and hazards are controlled and identified within a basic framework. Even when a company has a basic set of regulations in place, it may still qualify for help eliminating any danger to employees that still remains.

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