Scott Klimek AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C

The adequacy of snow and ice management is frequently disputed in premises liability cases. Standards for snow and ice control on walkway surfaces recommend methods to maintain reasonably safe walkways where snow and ice, including refreezing of melt water, impact the safety of pedestrians. These standards also warn that conformance with the standards will not alleviate ALL snow and ice hazards. They do, however, represent a reasonable effort to reduce pedestrian risks associated with snow and ice.

In this article, Architect and Premises Safety Expert, Scott Klimek provides a list of core discovery questions relevant to winter maintenance disputes.

Raised booth seating, sometimes used in restaurants, is associated with an increased rate of misstep and fall incidents. In this configuration, the booth is placed on a raised platform that is typically six inches above the adjacent floor, resulting in a single riser stair.

Single riser stairs, when not identified by pedestrians, create a risk of mis-steps when entering or leaving the booth. In this article, Architect & Premises Safety Expert, Scott Klimek discusses the hazards presented by the use of single riser stair platforms for booth seating in restaurants, and the design codes and standards that apply.

Previously, our premises safety experts addressed parking lot design and the use of wheel stops as they relate to slip, trip, and fall injuries, and pedestrian strikes. This article discusses the surface of the typical parking lot, common forms of asphalt deterioration, and the resulting hazards that can be present.

In this webinar video, a cross functional team of construction experts will discuss processes, procedures, and pitfalls associated with the shop drawing process. Framed within the context of construction claims investigations, the discussion covers the importance of shop drawings and the responsibilities of the various parties throughout the construction process. The impact of Building Information Modeling (BIM) on the shop drawing process is also explored.

Architects are tasked with providing a solution to their client’s unique building requirements. This demands an open and transparent interaction between the client and architect, particularly given the various influences that come to bear and the large amounts of capital at risk. Misunderstandings, miscommunication, and/or confusion over the responsibilities of all involved parties can lead to failures during the design phase of a project, resulting in costly and disputed consequences.

In this article, Architect and Construction Expert, Scott Klimek details the phases of project design, the responsibilities of the involved parties, and questions to consider when investigating a dispute.