Two companies which both worked on a structure that collapsed on the M1 highway in Sandton‚ killing two people and injuring 19 in October last year‚ cannot agree on who was responsible for the structure’s design.
The Department of Labour’s commission of inquiry into the collapse of the temporary structure‚ part of a project to build a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the highway‚ began in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Commissioner Lennie Samuel‚ a departmental forensic investigator and co-commissioner in the Tongaat Mall Structural Collapse Inquiry‚ called on affected parties to explain their involvement in the construction process.
Construction firm Murray & Roberts‚ the main contractor for the project‚ told the inquiry that it was responsible for erecting the now-collapsed temporary structure‚ including scaffolding and super beams.
The temporary structure‚ to be used to support construction work on the permanent bridge‚ would be removed from the site after the bridge’s completion‚ the inquiry heard.
But the firm’s legal representative Richard Hoal said that Form-Scaff‚ a firm Murray & Roberts had sub-contracted to assist with the project‚ was responsible for the temporary structure’s design.
Form-Scaff denied this‚ saying it only provided the material but did not design the structure.
Speaking through its legal counsel‚ advocate Ewan Rudolph‚ it said that it would not have agreed to take responsibility for the design or the construction because it does not have an engineer in its employ.
Rudolph said Form-Scaff had liaised regularly with Murray & Roberts engineer Roger Barker‚ who had assumed responsibility for the design‚ inspection and approval of the temporary structure.
He also said that shortly before construction of the temporary structure was scheduled to begin‚ Form-Scaff raised concerns that the site was not properly prepared for its delivery of the construction materials.
Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) senior development manager Siyabonga Genu told the inquiry that it was responsible for the project in its entirety and employed Murray & Roberts to carry out all the construction work‚ engineering firm Royal HaskoningDHV to prepare the bridge’s specification drawings and Nemai Consulting to ensure that safety and health standards were met.
Genu said these companies had to prove they were technically capable before they were invited to submit a pricing tender for the work and that the JDA had taken reasonable steps to ensure the bridge’s safety by employing these capable parties.
Ian Green‚ for Royal HaskoningDHV‚ said that it had handed the construction site over to Murray & Roberts in January in 2015.
Genu said it was discovered at a meeting following the collapse that two bolts were missing in the structure.
None of the parties could provide a reason for the fatal collapse‚ however.
The affected parties have until the end of March to submit final investigative reports to the inquiry before hearings continue in April.
— TMG Digital/TMG Courts and Law
Contractors play blame game as M1 bridge collapse inquiry starts
Two companies which both worked on a structure that collapsed on the M1 highway in Sandton‚ killing two people and injuring 19 in October last year‚ cannot agree on who was responsible for the structure’s design.
The Department of Labour’s commission of inquiry into the collapse of the temporary structure‚ part of a project to build a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the highway‚ began in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Commissioner Lennie Samuel‚ a departmental forensic investigator and co-commissioner in the Tongaat Mall Structural Collapse Inquiry‚ called on affected parties to explain their involvement in the construction process.
Construction firm Murray & Roberts‚ the main contractor for the project‚ told the inquiry that it was responsible for erecting the now-collapsed temporary structure‚ including scaffolding and super beams.
The temporary structure‚ to be used to support construction work on the permanent bridge‚ would be removed from the site after the bridge’s completion‚ the inquiry heard.
But the firm’s legal representative Richard Hoal said that Form-Scaff‚ a firm Murray & Roberts had sub-contracted to assist with the project‚ was responsible for the temporary structure’s design.
Form-Scaff denied this‚ saying it only provided the material but did not design the structure.
Speaking through its legal counsel‚ advocate Ewan Rudolph‚ it said that it would not have agreed to take responsibility for the design or the construction because it does not have an engineer in its employ.
Rudolph said Form-Scaff had liaised regularly with Murray & Roberts engineer Roger Barker‚ who had assumed responsibility for the design‚ inspection and approval of the temporary structure.
He also said that shortly before construction of the temporary structure was scheduled to begin‚ Form-Scaff raised concerns that the site was not properly prepared for its delivery of the construction materials.
Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) senior development manager Siyabonga Genu told the inquiry that it was responsible for the project in its entirety and employed Murray & Roberts to carry out all the construction work‚ engineering firm Royal HaskoningDHV to prepare the bridge’s specification drawings and Nemai Consulting to ensure that safety and health standards were met.
Genu said these companies had to prove they were technically capable before they were invited to submit a pricing tender for the work and that the JDA had taken reasonable steps to ensure the bridge’s safety by employing these capable parties.
Ian Green‚ for Royal HaskoningDHV‚ said that it had handed the construction site over to Murray & Roberts in January in 2015.
Genu said it was discovered at a meeting following the collapse that two bolts were missing in the structure.
None of the parties could provide a reason for the fatal collapse‚ however.
The affected parties have until the end of March to submit final investigative reports to the inquiry before hearings continue in April.
— TMG Digital/TMG Courts and Law
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos