Lack of control of cowboy contractors

I read with interest that the government has finally decided to introduce some long-awaited regulations mainly pertaining to residents neighbouring building sites.

However, there are other issues which are as important yet to be addressed.

The Resources Minister, George Pullicino stated that "the aim is to improve work practices, reduce damage and people's concerns".

If one were to go aboard a taxi, what would one be looking for, whether the man behind the wheel is a good driver, or whether he is insured? I would definitely go for a good driver and if he is insured, so much the better.

Classification of contractors should be given priority. Most of the accidents that take place on building sites are attributed to the fact that there still exist a considerable number of so-called cowboys. They are being engaged because they undercut prices.

Other bona fide, long established building and civil engineering contractors, although admittedly very few of them exist, employ their own health and safety officers, engineers, experienced site foremen, quality assurance technicians and project managers. Needless to say, these contractors are finding it difficult if not impossible to compete with others who do not have to cater for such overheads. This is tantamount to unfair competition, to say the least.

I am shocked to learn that in this day and age contractors are allowed to operate without a CAR (Contractors All Risk) insurance cover.

Building and civil engineering contractors should be made to provide a method statement together with their offer, whether it involves the construction of a multi storey building, a hotel or a terraced house.

This in turn should be vetted and approved by the architect in charge of the works, and/or the project manager appointed by the developer.

Why should owners of property adjacent to a new development be made to spend unnecessary money to review or make sure that the method statement is in order and in place, in addition to the inconvenience surely to be caused whilst construction works are in progress?

Having said that, it is also a fact that it is not the first time that residents neighbouring building sites take advantage and complain of damage to their property when such damage would have existed years before. Therefore, it is in the interest of the contractor to draw up a condition report of all adjacent premises by an independent architect and civil engineer, and the cost should be borne by the developer. In any case, such condition reports would be one of the requests when taking up a CAR insurance cover.

Mr Pullicino stated that "under the Cabinet-approved regulations, contractors will have to be registered and classified according to what jobs they are equipped to carry on". He went on to say that "the sector has been left like a jungle and needs to be regulated".

This is the typical Maltese syndrome. I remember quite distinctively that some eight years ago, the Building Industry Consultative Council was supposed to have started an intensive exercise to register all individuals and companies involved in the construction industry. Any progress achieved?

A car attendant needs a license to operate, but it seems that anyone, irrespective of his abilities, setup and knowhow can operate as a building and civil engineering contractor on these Islands, without the need of a license. Incredible.

What is important is not the equipment owned by the contractor but the experience of a contractor to be engaged on a specific job. It is useless for one to own a Ferrari when one is not in a possession of a driving license.