As Visakhapatnam grows, construction site audits become a safety imperative
As Visakhapatnam witnesses a steady expansion of apartment complexes, commercial buildings and infrastructure projects, construction experts have stressed the need for regular site audits to ensure that rapid urban development does not compromise safety or construction quality.
Experts point out that a site audit should not be reduced to a routine compliance exercise. Its primary purpose is to identify potential risks and deficiencies at an early stage, when corrective action is still possible.
“An audit should identify risks before they become serious problems. It should cover both construction quality and worker safety,” said a construction professional.
According to experts, inspections should cover more than the visible progress of a project. Engineers should inspect reinforcement, concrete quality, shuttering, curing and structural connections, while also ensuring that the work conforms to the approved drawings.
Safety arrangements at construction sites also require scrutiny. Scaffolding, fall protection systems, electrical installations, lifting equipment and emergency preparedness should form part of periodic inspections, they said.
The issue assumes greater significance in Visakhapatnam, where construction activity is increasingly taking place alongside established residential areas, busy roads and commercial zones.
“A construction site does not affect workers alone. The safety of pedestrians, motorists and people living nearby must also be considered,” said an urban infrastructure expert.
Experts have recommended that audits be carried out at critical stages of construction rather than being confined to a single inspection. Deficiencies identified during an inspection should be documented, responsibility for rectification fixed and subsequent checks conducted to ensure that the shortcomings have been addressed.
The Andhra Pradesh Building Rules provide for construction progress to be recorded at specified stages and certified by structural engineers. However, experts contend that large and high-risk projects require closer monitoring and, where necessary, independent assessments.
They have also advocated third-party audits for major projects involving multiple contractors and subcontractors. An independent assessment, they said, could provide a more objective evaluation of compliance with construction and safety standards.
“An inspection report has little value if the problems identified are not fixed and compliance is not checked again,” the construction professional said.
With Visakhapatnam expected to witness continued construction of residential and commercial buildings as well as roads and other infrastructure, experts say the emphasis should not be confined to the pace of development.
For a city undergoing rapid urban transformation, they argue, the quality and safety of construction must receive equal attention.
Regular site audits, they said, should consequently be regarded as an integral part of construction management rather than as a procedural formality.