Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Man and woman fall off balcony in London June 11.6.2014


My first reaction was to consider the design of buildings.

Possible Solutions - From Architects
Make buildings pyramid shape so you soft fall only one storey onto a garden on a roof below. Ideally with a fabric awning below you. Every balcony should have a soft fall ledge below. It was done years ago at Habitat in Canada.

See Daily mail internet Jun (11.6.2014)
Following this story on the BBC news site I found links to Daily Express, Daily Star and Oxford Times. I was surprised and alarmed to read that eye witnesses in a building opposite reported seeing the couple having sex over the railing.

Possible Solutions For The Public
1 Don't go onto a balcony when drunk.
2 Don't go onto a balcony when your friends or companions are drunk.
3 Have sex only when sober.
4 Have sex only when your partner is sober.
5 Have sex only in a bed.
6 Have sex only in your home or a place whose safety you have ascertained - a place which looks safe.
7 Never climb on a balcony.
8 Do not lean over a balcony.
9 Do not rest against a balcony.
10 Do not have too many people on a balcony (it might give way).
11 Never do anything (in a public place) you would not want to see in the papers.
12 Never do anything you would not want to see on social media.
13 Never do anything which would not be done by any person you respect in authority.
(For example, HM The Queen, a minister of religion, the head of a school, the boss of the company where you work.)
14 Would the host of the party or the owner of the building be happy about what you did or the mess you left behind?
15 If in doubt, don't.
16 Wait five minutes.
17 What would your parents and grandparents say?
18 What could go wrong?
19 Would insurance pay up if you had an accident doing this?
20 Do not allow anybody else to persuade you to do anything dangerous.
21 Look out for their safety!

Friday, June 6, 2014

Numbers Dancing At A Party - Floor Gives Way


In Manchester in 2014 the floor gives way when large numbers are at a party.
Fortunately no deaths because the cellar below is only about three feet deep. But many other houses in the area have deeper cellars.

(Read more in the Daily Mail on line.)

Public buildings and lifts (elevators if you are reading this in the USA) list the maximum numbers and weights allowed for safety. But somebody has to be able to restrict numbers and count how many in every room. Add to that weight on the floor the effect of everybody jumping in unison. Plus the fact that the landlord is not legally allowed to enter unless the tenant requests and permits an inspection. Have health and safety any suggestions?