Professional and Career Topics

A recent thread in the Integrated Buildings & Structures Community started by @Mitchell Winkler made me think more broadly about construction inspections in general, so I wanted to bring it to the larger group in Professional and Career Topics.

Below are a few questions that come to mind, and I'd love to hear any other thoughts you have on the topic.

What best practices have you seen work well for inspections on safety-critical infrastructure?

Could who hires an inspector make a difference in the reliability of the report due to conscious or subconscious bias on behalf of the inspector's "client"?

What steps or quality processes can designers suggest on projects to increase the chances their designs are implemented as intended in the field?

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Heidi C. Wallace, P.E., M.ASCE
Tulsa, OK
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Excellent questions, Heidi. IMO, there's an inherent conflict of interest if inspectors are hired by the inspectee. Internal reviews are often seen as suspect, but the same is true of any review or investigation where the outcome may influence future work. Insisting on quality work may get an inspector or reviewer blackballed by that organization or an entire industry. If inspectors aren't truly independent, I don't trust the system.

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William McAnally Ph.D., P.E., BC.CE, BC.NE, F.ASCE
ENGINEER
Columbus MS
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