Human Errors in the Design and Execution of Steel Structures—A Case Study

Abstract

Construction engineering activity requires decision making that involves a relatively large number of risk factors. These factors are related not only to the statistical variability of design data and model uncertainties but also to human proneness to commit errors. Human errors are inevitable and have a significant influence on the safety of building structures, which has been confirmed by the results of numerous structural failure analyses. This influence is also mentioned in the European Standard EN 1990, but human errors are not considered in the partial factor design. In this respect, the reliability required for the structure is achieved by applying quality management measures in design, execution, use and maintenance. The correct operation of the quality control system is then essential for the operational safety of the structure and the economic efficiency of the entire business project. This issue is illustrated with an analysis of the steel structure of an agricultural building in which human errors occurred at the planning, design and execution stages. Owing to the incorrect application of the quality management system, these errors had not been revised in due time, which led to the initiation of legal proceedings and finally to the decision to dismantle the building before putting it into use.