Title
Calling on the Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections to strengthen oversight and enforcement of the construction and demolition industry through effective use of technology by reporting on technology improvement opportunities and further reporting annually on the status of 71 recommendations proposed by the Special Investigating Committee on Demolition Practices in Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, The collapse at 2136 Market Street on Monday, June 5, 2013, took six lives and injured thirteen others, and was followed by the collapse of a support beam at a structure under construction on 12th and Berks Streets on Thursday, July 11, 2013, injuring one worker and trapping five others, and a subsequent collapse at 36th Street and Fairmount Avenue on Thursday, August 8, 2013, causing several nearby residents to become displaced from their homes; and
WHEREAS, Public safety hazard incidents in rapid succession at demolition and construction sites have contributed to widespread public anger over the apparent lack of oversight and enforcement over the construction and demolition practices and project sites by the Department of Licenses & Inspections (L&I); and
WHEREAS, L&I is responsible for permitting and inspecting buildings and regulating contractors in the construction and demolition industries to insure public safety is maintained during the performance of inherently dangerous work; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 130546 authorized the Special Investigating Committee on Demolition Practices in Philadelphia to investigate demolition policies and propose recommendations and reforms necessary to enhance public safety through greater transparency, accountability, and enforcement of best practices in demolition; and
WHEREAS, Utilization of technology is a best practice in the building permitting industry for submission permit application materials, including project site photographs which reduce delays in processing, decrease the number of inspector ...
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