Experts testify lack of site inspections prior to deadly collapse.
As City Council continued its probe Thursday into last month’s tragic building collapse on Market Street, they heard from independent demolition experts who said that city inspectors inspect very little.
Among the experts testifying before council’s special committee was Alvin Davis, an engineer with 30 years in the demolition business, including the Spectrum. He said inspectors from Licenses and Inspections come by merely to check the paperwork — and they don’t judge the safety of the demolition in progress.
“L&I may come by, their responsibility to them is just to make sure you have your permit,” Davis said. “They may not have demolition experience. They may not know what precautions to tell you to take. They may not know all that.”
Davis said it ultimately rests with the general contractor to ensure a safe demolition — and he admitted that unscrupulous contractors may focus more on cutting corners to save money.
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