SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1977
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+AND WE ARE NOW CONSIDERING THE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE ORDINANCE TO ENSURE THAT NECESSARY TESTS AND QUALIFIED SUPERVISION OF EARTHWORKS IS EXERCISED IN THE SAME WAY AS NOW APPLIED TO STRUCTURES,+ HE ADDED.
MR. O'RORKE SAID CONSIDERATION WAS ALSO BEING GIVEN TO OTHER MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT CONSTRUCTION WORKS WERE PROPERLY CARRIED OUT.
THESE INCLUDED THE CREATION OF A NEW GRADE OF AUTHORISED GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER WITH SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN SOIL AND ROCK CONDITIONS.
+WHEN REQUIRED BY THE BUILDING AUTHORITY, PRIVATE DEVELOPERS WOULD HAVE TO EMPLOY THESE SPECIALISTS FOR THE INVESTIGATION AND DESIGN FOUNDATIONS OF STRUCTURES AND SITE FORMATION, SAID MR. O'RORKE.
AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PANEL OF EXPERTS, AN APPEALS BOARD WOULD ALSO BE SET UP TO HEAR OBJECTIONS TO THE DECISIONS OF THE NEW OFFICE.
MR. O'RORKE SAID: THE DETAILS HAVE YET TO BE WORKED OUT, OF COURSE, BUT THE BOARD WILL PROBABLY COMPRISE GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR DRAWN IN ROTATION FROM THE PROPOSED LIST OF REGISTERED GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERS, PLUS GOVERNMENT AND LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE P.W.D. IS FINALISING A MANUAL OF GOOD ENG INEERING PRACTICE IN CONSTRUCTION ON SLOPES FOR THE GUIDANCE OF BOTH THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRIES.
MR. O'RORKE SAID THE MANUAL WOULD BE PUBLISHED IN PARTS STARTING TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR.
+ THE CONTENTS ARE BEING AGREED BY A STEERING GROUP COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES OF UNIVERSITY, INDUSTRY AND THE P.W.D., AND IT IS ALSO INTENDED TO CONSULT OTHER PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTIONS CONCERNED,+ HE SAID.
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