High Water and the High Court: Hawkins Evidence Helps with Flood Claim
Weightmans solicitors instructed Mr Richard Keightley of Hawkins to investigate the extent and cause of the flood risk to the Claimants’ property, on behalf of Warwickshire County Council’s insurer. The case was heard in a six day trial at the Technology and Construction division of the High Court in November 2019.
Investigations Into Ground Related Failures Part 3 – Construction Stage Issues
The Hawkins Civil Engineering team has found that many failures are caused by errors at the construction/installation stage.
Failure of Synthetic Fibre Lifting Equipment
In the period between 2017 and 2018, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported a total of 144 fatal injuries, and 71,062 non-fatal injuries, in the workplace under the RIDDOR procedure. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations requires both employers, and managers of certain premises, to report work-related accidents and deaths to the relevant authority. According to the HSE, the estimated cost of these workplace injuries was in the region of £5.2 billion.
Investigations into Ground Related Failures Part 2 – Design Stage Issues
Civil engineering and building failures are often caused by geotechnical issues and these can be grouped by the different stages of the project: ground investigation, design, and construction, often with a combination of interacting issues.
Acoustics – When Buildings Fail
Acoustics – When Buildings Fail. Acoustics engineering is often referred to as “the dark art” by those in the design and build industry.
Management of Lifting Operations
Lifting operations are not limited to large cranes on construction sites, but can occur in a range of industries and activities.
The Science Behind Flooding Investigations
Approximately one in six UK properties is at risk of flooding, and the annual cost of flood-related insurance claims in the UK averages £200-300 million.
Investigations Into Ground Related Failures Part 1 – Ground Investigation Issues
The importance of a good desk study is exemplified by this case where a sinkhole opened up in the grounds of a school.
Warehouse Racking Collapses – Cause and Origin Investigation
There are a number of different factors that could result in a racking collapse. The cause might not be a single factor, but can be a number of combined factors which ultimately weaken the structure to a point where it collapses.
A Useful Result for Local Authorities
St Margaret’s Church in Uxbridge is suffering from decay of the stone walls some of which is serious. The church authorities were advised by their conservation experts that the cause of the decay was attack by salt overspill from the council’s winter road gritting program and as a result, the church brought proceedings against the council.