Site visits and Field Reports

Question 1

While on a site visit during construction, the designer notices unsecured objects that are likely to fall and injure a worker or visitor.
What should the designer do?

tell the construction crew to stop working and add the necessary barricades

have the contractor stop work until the problem has been corrected

alert the contractor to the situation and write a letter to the owner stating what was observed

nothing, this is the contractor’s responsibility

Answer 1

alert the contractor to the situation and write a letter to the owner stating what was observed

Question 2

The designer has been promoted from in-house CAD/Revit specialist to project manager.
Which will not be one of their responsibilities as a project manager?

monitoring and tracking of the progress of the job to see if the planned aspects of time, fee and quality are being accomplished

participating in team marketing efforts

helping to determine the initial scope of the work

putting a stop to work when safety violations are present

Answer 2

putting a stop to work when safety violations are present

The general contractor is solely responsible for safety on the job site. If the interior designer observes an obvious safety violation, he or she should call it to the attention of both the contractor and owner and should follow up with a notice in writing. The designer should NOT suggest how the violation should be corrected to avoid exposure to third-party claims.

If the safety problem is not promptly corrected, the interior designer should notify both the contractor and the owner in writing. The interior designer cannot stop work on a project, only the owner can do that.

Question 3

As outlined in the General Conditions of the Contract for Construction, who pays for any field tests/inspections beyond what is required in the contract documents?

Answer 3

Both the owner and the general contractor