Preventing the collapse of reinforced concrete (RC) structures, and support work during construction: A support work manufacturer’s perceptions

In recent years, there have been a spate of collapses in South Africa, in terms of buildings, slabs, and support work. Given the current reality, a study was initiated to determine, inter alia, the importance of fifty-five factors relative to preventing the collapse of RC structures during construction, and the importance of thirty factors relative to optimum support work and formwork and the integrity of structures under construction. The study reported on is based upon findings resulting from a self-administered survey of a temporary works designer and suppliers’ staff that attended a workshop presented by the author. The salient findings are as follows. 83.3% of the 55 factors are between near major to major / major importance, and 16.7% are between important to near major / near major importance relative to preventing the collapse of RC structures during construction. 83.3% of the 30 factors are between near major to major / major importance, and 16.7% are between important to near major / near major importance relative to optimum support work and formwork and the integrity of structures under construction. Recommendations include that conformance to requirements is the key, that such requirements be scientifically evolved and communicated, a pre-requisite being that the required competencies exist, which can only be assured through a formal registration process, including that of contractors. Ideally, multi-stakeholder project H&S, quality, and risk plans should be evolved, and design and construction must be integrated. Then, general construction management and H&S planning must be a hallmark of all projects, and then optimum management and supervision to ensure execution of such planning. © 2018 The Authors. Published by Diamond Congress Ltd. Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the Creative Construction Conference 2018.