The collapse of part of a building on Monday in Limassol may have been caused by inadequate planning, the Association of Civil Engineers said on Tuesday, pointing out that securing structural adequacy and building site safety was a collective responsibility.
“The aim must be to create an environment in which every worker can carry out his duties safely and return to his family safe and sound,” the association said.
Referring to Monday’s incident, the association said that during the pouring of wet concrete, part of the third-floor roof formwork (temporary support structure until the concrete sets) collapsed, resulting in the exposure of the reinforcement and extensive damage to the load-bearing system of the structure.
“The incident may be related to inadequate dimensioning and/or shoring of the temporary construction system, namely formwork and scaffolding,” the association explained.
Formwork planning must be based on sound methodologies and calculations of the load, while shoring must be carried out in accordance with approved studies and specifications. Furthermore, supervision is imperative during all stages and adhering to health and safety legislation is non-negotiable.
The exact causes of the incident are being investigated by the Labour Inspection Department.
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