Deadly Accident

[Mark Reinmiller]

This accident happened over the weekend. I don't inspect too many buildings with security gates, but in the future I will pay more attention to them. This is a good reminder, not just about security gates but other large objects that may not even be within the scope of an inspection. Large signs would be another example. As an inspector you may be the only person who will see this potential dangerous defect. Its easy to walk right past something like this without giving it much thought (I have).

Rita's tragedy: Freak accident or shoddy work? (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20140630_Rita_s_tragedy__Freak_accident_or_shoddy_ work_.html)

[Jerry Peck]

This accident happened over the weekend. I don't inspect too many buildings with security gates, but in the future I will pay more attention to them. This is a good reminder, not just about security gates but other large objects that may not even be within the scope of an inspection. Large signs would be another example. As an inspector you may be the only person who will see this potential dangerous defect. Its easy to walk right past something like this without giving it much thought (I have).

Rita's tragedy: Freak accident or shoddy work? (http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20140630_Rita_s_tragedy__Freak_accident_or_shoddy_ work_.html)

The story doesn't make sense:
- The Daily News was unable to reach the building's owners, P&G Property Development..
.
- Rebecca Jackson, who owns the Rita's with her husband, Kenny, was quoted in a 2010 Inquirer story about the revitalization of West Girard Avenue.
- "Part of buying the building," she said, ...

Who is the owner of the building? Am I missing something?

[Mark Reinmiller]

The story doesn't make sense:
- The Daily News was unable to reach the building's owners, P&G Property Development..
.
- Rebecca Jackson, who owns the Rita's with her husband, Kenny, was quoted in a 2010 Inquirer story about the revitalization of West Girard Avenue.
- "Part of buying the building," she said, ...

Who is the owner of the building? Am I missing something?

Jerry, I'm surprised at you. You expect accurate reporting from a reporter?

[Jerry Peck]

Jerry, I'm surprised at you. You expect accurate reporting from a reporter?

Sorry, a moment of sanity slipped in ... what was I thinking? :)

Kind of like the headline:

Severe storm damages cemetery - hundreds dead!

[BridgeMan]

The sad truth about the girl dying is that many building owners, public and private, don't make a practice of properly inspecting and maintaining their properties. I'd put money on the fact that the gate was never inspected for proper operation and firm attachment from the time it was installed.

In Milwaukee, WI a few years ago, a 13-ton concrete panel fell off of a County parking garage without warning, killing a teenage boy who happened to be walking out of the exit located directly under it. The lawyers are still fighting over who to blame, and who pays how much. And the County Executive at the time, Scott Walker, had previously (and proudly) cut the County's structure maintenance budget from several million $$$ to less than $200,000 a year, which resulted in a Parks Department lifeguard being in charge of infrequent structure inspections. Walker is now Wisconsin's governor.

[Gunnar Alquist]

The story doesn't make sense:

- "Part of buying the building," she said, ...

Who is the owner of the building? Am I missing something?

Since Rita's is a franchise, I am going to guess that "building" was accidentally used instead of "business".