M1 Bridge Collapse - Grayston Drive

[zululami]

Some people are quiet after reading "Murray & Roberts"?

Because it does not follow their racist script...:crylaugh: ... Idiots!

 

[schumi]

. Grayston Bridge collapse inquiry row

THE commissioner presiding over the Grayston Drive bridge collapse was yesterday accused of being unfair and badgering witnesses after the contract manager of the ill-fated bridge admitted responsibility for the collapse.

Contract manager Hein Pretorius, the senior engineer at the site of the Grayston Drive pedestrian and cyclist bridge project, testified before the inquiry that he “accepted responsibility for the collapse of the temporary works structure”.

However, he told the commission that he was not in a position to determine what exactly caused the collapse. He was on leave on October 14, 2015, when the structure collapsed on the M1 highway.

Pretorius testified that he was aware that projects similar to the M1/Grayston bridge project required the appointment of competent persons..

More at : https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/grayston-bridge-collapse-inquiry-row-15849916

 

[schumi]

. Bridge collapse probe: department muzzled

.THE Department of Labour has been slapped with a temporary gagging order forbidding it from releasing any statements or interviews regarding the proceedings of the Grayston Drive bridge collapse inquiry.

The decision by the inquiry's presiding inspector, Phumudzo Maphaha, followed complaints submitted by legal representatives.

They felt the department’s communication was prejudiced and not being impartial.

The department had released a statement yesterday regarding the admission by contract manager and senior engineer Hein Pretorius that he accepted responsibility for the bridge's collapse.

Legal teams felt that the media release and interviews conducted by department spokesperson Teboho Thejane had caused damage to Pretorius’s reputation following the cross-examination.

Even though transcripts were provided regarding the admission, the legal teams felt the statements had taken what was said out of context. Maphaha said the matter had been raised with the department’s legal team for consultation.

More at : https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/bridge-collapse-probe-department-muzzled-15862778

 

[Gordon_R]

. Bridge collapse probe: department muzzled

More at : https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/bridge-collapse-probe-department-muzzled-15862778

Sounds like plenty of opportunity for buck passing on this project. From the same article link:

As the inquiry continued, Dr Roger Barker, the chief engineer at the time for Murray & Roberts, submitted his statement and highlighted his hesitation at being cross-examined.

He said: “These people get it so wrong.”

With Barker’s cross-examination under way, the engineer was adamant that his involvement with the bridge only went as far as the design for the strip footings to the temporary works structure.

And for his part in the project, he had not designed the temporary works, neither was he asked to check or review the designs submitted, he saidd.

“I deny any discussions suggesting that I was appointed to assume responsibility for the design, inspection and approval of the temporary works,” read his statement.

 

[schumi]

. Grayston bridge inquiry: Closing arguments to start

.JOHANNESBURG - The commission of inquiry appointed to probe Johannesburg's Grayston pedestrian bridge collapse has completed hearing oral evidence and now awaits the submission of closing arguments, the labour department said Friday.

''The commission now awaits the submission of written heads of arguments by legal representatives of interested stakeholders by 14 August 2018. This will be followed by written responses to the heads of argument which are expected to be submitted by 17 September 2018,'' the department said in a statement.

More at : https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-af...e-inquiry-closing-arguments-to-start-15998217

 

[schumi]

Damning report into M1 highway bridge collapse that killed two

Incompetence, missing bolts and all-round negligence cited as grounds for prosecution, but no individuals have been implicated A temporary structure for the building of a pedestrian bridge over the M1 highway was kept together by luck rather than engineering skill. At about 3.25pm on October 14 2015, that luck ran out, as 120 tons of steel crashed on to the highway during afternoon traffic. The collapse cost the lives of two people and injured 19, but could have been prevented, an investigation report by the department of labour shows. The findings, especially those made against the main contractor, Murray & Roberts Construction (MRC), are damning. The department recommends that four institutions be prosecuted, but it does not hold any individual responsible. The report about what really led to the accident has been kept under wraps until now. The department has refused to release the report, but the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), which appointed MRC, provided it to City Press’ sister publication, Rapport, on request, because it is in the public interest. According to the report, the MRC entrusted the project to a candidate engineer, Oliver Aadnesgaard, as site engineer and to Hein Pretorius as contract manager. Both were inexperienced and lacked the expertise for this specific project. As a candidate engineer, Aadnesgaard should have worked under the supervision of a registered engineer, but Pretorius was not registered with the Engineering Council of SA and had no experience in building bridges or erecting temporary structures.

More at : https://city-press.news24.com/Busin...hway-bridge-collapse-that-killed-two-20191202

 

[ToxicBunny]

Gotta love how we go out of our way NOT to implicate specific people....

 

[Gordon_R]

The whole story sounds very similar to the bridge collapse in Florida (USA). The people in charge were incompetent and not qualified. The person monitoring noticed problems, but did not close the road. There is lots of blame to go around, but no individuals will be held responsible. I hope their public liability insurance paid out.

 

[buka001]

I cannot understand how the Contracts Manager is not being held responsible. The OHSA, Construction Regulations of 2014, Clause 8(1) bestows on him strict responsibilities and duties in regards to the Health and Safety of his employees and members of the public.

Further to that the Contracts Manager and Murray And Roberts is also responsible under Clause 11(1) - The Contractor is responsible to ensure that structures (permanent or Temporary do not collapse).

Further to this the Contracts Manager and Murray and Roberts are also liable under clause's 12(1), (2), (3) and (4) - Temporary Works - Contractor's responsibilities.

There always appears to be a reluctance to carry out proper prosecution of these cases in SA.

I would argue though, the Site Engineer would not have direct responsibility, as the Contracts Manager is responsible to appoint persons which he deems are competent and duly trained and experienced for the scope of works they are required to supervise (Clause 8(2)). If he cannot demonstrate that he carried out this assessment in his appointment of the site engineer to this role, then he is further liable for this failing.