KiwiNZ: The people that work in these building are entitled to know there is a risk, then they can make a decision to stay working in them or not.
Yes, and if there is a known risk then they should be told.
The point here is that there is a large "hand-waving" list of buildings where there might or might not be an issue, and a plan to fairly rapidly assess them. The information should be released when available. At the moment it isn't. All you would do is create chaos by releasing a long list of unsubstantiated "possible maybes" at this point.
+1
The ridiculous part of all this is that every single building in NZ is at risk of earthquake damage with the only differential being the extent of the risk.
NZ is, IMO, going nuts over risk. Most of the towns and cities in this country sit on top of fault lines, surrounded by others - some of which are suspected but not yet identified - and many are within coo-ee of volcanoes. Some urban areas are at risk of tsunami. We get tornados and gale force winds. Simple fact is, NZ is geologically young, subject to fierce southern ocean storms, narrow and surrounded by water. If we want to evaluate and categorise every risk we have here it would make for interesting reading but there is no way we can protect ourselves from all known risks.
When a building is proven to be at a risk that can be mitigated by strengthening then, sure, the public should know but until this is based on sound, detailed testing it does not public good to raise alarm.
Elpie: NZ is, IMO, going nuts over risk. Most of the towns and cities in this country sit on top of fault lines, surrounded by others - some of which are suspected but not yet identified - and many are within coo-ee of volcanoes.
And a lot of people who are worrying about earthquakes seem completely unconcerned that they are at a high risk of having a serious accident on the road or around the home or workplace.
alasta: I would have thought that local authorities should be taking responsibility for this. Wellington City Council has been quite upfront about earthquake prone buildings.
It is really important that people pressure their employers to provide as much information as possible about the safety of the building they are working in. I have been advised of the status of the 1980s building that I work in relative to the current building code but this is only a theoretical measurement so the building owners have agreed to undertake a Detailed Seismic Assessment (DSA) which will involve engineers physically assessing the earthquake resistance of major structural components.
WCC had to be pushed REALLY HARD to release the list.
The DOM tried for months to get access to the list.
alasta: I would have thought that local authorities should be taking responsibility for this. Wellington City Council has been quite upfront about earthquake prone buildings.
It is really important that people pressure their employers to provide as much information as possible about the safety of the building they are working in. I have been advised of the status of the 1980s building that I work in relative to the current building code but this is only a theoretical measurement so the building owners have agreed to undertake a Detailed Seismic Assessment (DSA) which will involve engineers physically assessing the earthquake resistance of major structural components.
WCC had to be pushed REALLY HARD to release the list.
The DOM tried for months to get access to the list.
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