Carmel Cacopardo

The various incidents on construction sites are extremely worrying. In the latest case, that at Paceville, several deaths were avoided in the nick of time. The public authorities should not place so much trust in luck: serious regulatory controls are needed. It is only adequate regulation that can put our mind at rest: luck does not.

A number of reforms and controls have introduced various measures regulating the construction industry. Depending on how well the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is organised, they will take some time to bear fruit. In the meantime, other equally important issues must be urgently addressed.

One particular issue has been avoided by the legislator to date, notwithstanding that detailed proposals have been submitted for the consideration of Cabinet only to be shelved at the 11th hour.

Unfortunately, these proposals have been set aside as serious regulatory controls are being continuously outsmarted by the clientelist politics so prevalent on these islands. Clientelism is a continuous threat to the well-being of our society.

Issues of safety in the construction industry do not only arise on the building site. It is not only demolition and excavation work which can give rise to dangerous situations, if not properly planned and carried out. Other equally important issues arise through the current state and condition of existing buildings: both those adjacent to the proposed development as well as others in the vicinity.

This fundamental issue can be addressed through the formulation of a passport for our buildings. Such a passport, which should be updated regularly, would document the current state of individual buildings and help in ensuring that each and every building is continuously in an adequate state of repair.

The building passport would be a documented proof of the building’s current health. An updated passport should be a basic requirement for properties to be rented out.

In addition, it could possibly ensure that when demolition and excavation works are taken in hand adjacent to, say, a residential block, the current state of the said residential block would have already been documented. If repair works are still outstanding, or if some additions or alterations were carried out defectively, the next update of the building passport would serve as the proverbial red light, an alert that not all is well.

The BCA, in such a situation would need to take note, through an updated building passport, of the current state of the buildings potentially impacted by a projected development before authorising the commencement of works. If pending issues result, in particular if such pending issues give rise to concerns relative to safety of either the tenants or the public at large the BCA should undoubtedly not authorise the commencement of building works until such time that concerns are adequately addressed.

Such a building passport would undoubtedly be a more than a welcome tool for insurance companies before deciding on whether to insure both buildings as well as building developments.

The building passport could also be an eye-opener to architects and civil engineers in the preparation of method statements for projected development works.

It could also be a basic information available at estate agents, possibly being more informative that the information they currently have.

What are we waiting for? How many deaths must be registered on our building sites before we act? Luck will not always be on our side.

Carmel Cacopardo, Deputy Chairperson ADPD-The Green Party

First published in The Sunday Times of Malta: 22 June 2025