Conference Overview
The world today is filled with new phenomena related to many
issues including climate change. This has a direct impact on
the construction and engineering industry which now needs to
ensure that projects can withstand these unpredictable risks
which occur more frequently. This results in a need to ensure
that works inspectors in both the public and private sectors are
adequately equipped to deal with the changes and ensure that
safe projects are ultimately delivered taking into consideration
sustainability issues such as environmental laws and general
compliance. Accountability on the part of works inspectors is also
simultaneously increasing and this requires that comprehensive
inspection techniques be introduced to best protect the standard
of projects to ensure a safer environment and more efficient use
of resources. This event calls for inspectors to assess the quality
management, compliance and performance challenges facing
the industry.
Resources can be saved by ensuring that inspection scheduling,
monitoring and evaluation processes of projects are adequately
implemented. Most training for construction and building
inspectors is learned on the job and they are required to have an
extensive knowledge of methods, material standards, construction
procedures and principles and national standards and this event
aims to bring the much needed information to the industry. This
conference provides an excellent benchmarking opportunity as
leaders share from their extensive experience.
Due to the high cost of material/products used, material
inspection cannot be overlooked as this has caused plants/
sites to be closed and in some cases claimed the life of workers.
Insurance companies share the challenge of claims resulting from
poor inspection scheduling procedures which can be a major risk
in the organisation’s operations. As evidenced by a recent natural
disaster in South Africa, standardised works inspection on every
facility is imperative as climate change impacts are costing life and
infrastructure backlog. No country is immune to these growing
challenges and what will inspectors do to reduce the impact?
Public works inspectors and project consultants such as
architects, engineers and project / construction managers, ensure
that governments and private water and sewer systems, highways,
streets, buildings, roads, power stations, electrical, telecoms,
bridges, and dam construction conform to detailed contract
specifications and national standards. Many inspectors also
investigate construction or alterations that are conducted without
proper permits. Inspectors who are employees of municipalities
enforce laws pertaining to the proper design, construction, and
use of buildings and general health and safety on site by adhering
to building codes and standards. These face the challenge of
enforcing compliance in a uniform and consistent manor.
This event has been designed for Inspectors of Buildings,
Construction Projects, Construction Sites, Electrical Engineering,
Roads, Mining, Highways, Pipelines, Reservoirs, Water &
Wastewater Projects, Hydroelectric and other large engineering
projects.
Facing the challenges of inspection
- Discontent by citizens who are forced to correct blighted
or substandard properties due to lack of proper inspection
during construction and because they could not pay/engage
the services of certified construction professionals;
- Excessive and exorbitant fees, fines and liens issued for
violations;
- Impropriety in the selection of abatement contractors,
including allegations of ethical violations in awarding
contracts and lack of transparency;
- Capacity building;
- Cost and benefits of compliance;
- Inconsistent evaluations by different inspectors working on
the same case;
- Lack of a reasonable amount of time to comply with standards
and take corrective measures;
- Lack of clarity about the abatement process;
- Lack of energy performance certificates (EPC’s)
- Lack of timely and understandable notice of violations;
- Lack of adequate knowledge of occupational health and
safety standards/need for compliance on sites/plants/
buildings
- Plenty of old dated data which cannot be used for current
decision making
- Poor legislation on electrical safety and compliance,
monitoring and evaluation
- Projects certification and compliance
- Unclear and ineffective appeals process that is sometimes
ignored by Local Building Authority personnel;
- Unprofessional, retaliatory and intimidating treatment by
inspectors;
