Dive Brief:
- A Colorado-based contractor did not have a permit for the Dallas pool remodel it was working on when the parking garage of a seven-story Dallas condominium building collapsed, leaving more than 200 cars trapped in the rubble but no one injured, CBS reported.
- According to residents, Reconstruction Experts, Inc.’s workers placed very heavy construction materials on the garage’s top level, and investigators are trying to determine if the extra weight caused the collapse.
- The company applied for a building permit, but city officials say they did not issue one because they needed additional information. City officials told CBS they sent an email to Reconstruction Experts hours before the collapse asking them to submit that information, along with an additional drawing.
Dive Insight:
The CEO of Reconstruction Experts Inc., Andrew Anderson, said "standard protocol was not followed" and issued a written statement about the collapse.
"The supervisor working on the project at The Renaissance began work while a permit was still in process, but not issued. It’s an unacceptable error and one that I apologize for. We’ve built our business on a commitment to safety. So once we complete our internal review, we’ll hold accountable those responsible for this error and it could lead to termination."
Once the site is declared secure, the company said it will launch its own investigation into the cause of the collapse.
While there has recently been heightened attention to the issue of construction companies skirting safety guidelines and putting their workers in jeopardy, incidents resulting in damaged property and possible danger for non-workers brings even more public attention to possible contractor misconduct.
