Recent AHJ plan reviewer and inspector. As Arthur noted, prior to construction or change of occupancy, or in his case preparation prior to traveling to do an inspection, doing an Effective interview is a key activity of an AHJ . Being the one segment of city organization that knows what is normal for a particular industry is of assistance. Even a quick look at wikipedia before meeting helps.
Of course I worked in an environment that more or less expected me to enforce codes, even if at times that made powers that be displeased. OSHA et al . When you cut budgets in a high-labor field you get less output. You can only automate so much. Boots on the ground count. The only ways self-enforcement works consistently if there is a strong value either in broader society, or within an industry, that doing things in safe manner is the only way. Think chlorine industry for a good example. The other is if when caught by either a rare, effectively random inspection, or an event happens, the results are so draconian that almost no one will violate good practice. This is not part of the culture. West, Texas. Part of the expressed culture of non-Austin Texas is defiance for rules, especially rules society embodies as laws. Choices society makes matter. bv From: "Todd - Work" < tgw @ fpdc .com> To: sprinklerforum @ firesprinkler .org Sent: Friday, April 26, 2013 9:09:25 AM Subject: West, TX explosion >From reading the latest reports, the fertilizer facility in West, TX that >exploded had 270 tons of ammonium nitrate on site. They had previously told >authorities that they had nothing hazardous. They were required to file with >DHS if they have more than 400 pounds on site and only exceeded that by 1350 >times. (Don't forget, Timothy McVeigh used a lot of that at the OK City >bombing). Obviously there is a problem at the management level. So when we evaluate facilities for sprinkler protection, how are people handling hazardous materials? As a PE, I will address it one way. If a contractor is looking at it in a design/build project, how is that being addressed? Todd G Williams, PE Fire Protection Design/Consulting Stonington , CT www . fpdc .com _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list Sprinklerforum @lists. firesprinkler .org http ://lists. firesprinkler .org/ listinfo . cgi / sprinklerforum - firesprinkler .org _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
