A national bridge inspection investigation has underlined the need for formal training, in order to improve accuracy and consistency within the profession.
Peter Brown, group manager of bridges at Oxfordshire County Council, told delegates at last week’s Surveyor Bridges Conference that the trial found ‘considerable inaccuracies’ when inspectors classified complex arrangements. He added that this reflected a lack of understanding of bridge types, and/or the incorrect usage of the classification system. Following publication of the Inspection manual for highway structures in 2007, 14 local authorities in the Southeast took part in the trial, which was compared with the results of an earlier study.
It involved the inspection of six bridges of varying construction and age, which were carried out by inspectors ranging in experience. In most cases, the inspectors had been trained on the job, with little or no formal classroom training.
After presenting the study’s findings, Brown called for the introduction of formal training, saying it was the only way to ensure consistent evaluations from bridge inspectors.
‘The increasing outsourcing of contracts and greater use of consultants, together with pressure on finances is changing the way inspections are carried out. In particular, bridge-owners need to have confidence in the competence of their own and external inspection staff, and the information they provide,’ he said.
‘There is a genuine need and desire from the nation’s bridge-owners, managers, engineers and inspectors for formal bridge inspection training.’
His calls were echoed by Richard Fish, former chairman of CSS Bridges Group and the UK Bridge Board, who told Surveyor: ‘There is an awfully long way to go before we get a national consistency when it comes to bridges.’ Fish also renewed calls for a national bridge database, and said this could only be done if there was the political willpower and money to back it up.
He claimed the money is was already being spent in isolated pockets, and by grouping it together, could produce visible results.
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