Which construction standards are commonly violated in Tbilisi?

54 construction sites have been inspected in Tbilisi and all of them were violating security standards. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

Agenda.ge, 07 Aug 2019 - 14:17, Tbilisi,Georgia

A total of 51 construction companies including some of the major players on the Georgian market such as Axis, Domusi and Balavari are not following safety rules during construction, announces the Georgian Ministry of Health. 

The Georgian Ministry of Health, Technical and Construction Supervision Agency of the Ministry of Economy and the Tbilisi City Hall inspected 54 construction sites from July 23 to August 2 in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and found that all of them were violating security standards. 

The major violations include:

  • Underestimation of risk
  • Neglecting individual protection against falls from heights
  • Vulnerable open areas (wells, shafts, elevator shafts, staircases, any place where people may fall)
  • Non-standard, makeshift towers, hanging towers
  • Unreliable safety nets
  • Neglect of instructions and orders
  • Equipment malfunction
  • No job security specialist
  • Ignoring warning signs
  • Malfunction of lift collapses

As a result, work on 33 sites was suspended, and 38 of them were fined 992,500 GEL (about $338,737/€302,864). Inspected facilities were given administrative warning and they have 7-10 days to correct the violations.

Besides Axis, Domusi and Balavari, the list of companies that violate construction standards also include X2 Development, Lagi Capital, Boston Development, IG Development Georgia, Georgian Development Group, Domus Park Vake, GCG Development and others. 

Tbilisi City Hall drafted a bill and sent it to parliament in June which makes several construction violations a criminal offence, which are currently only considered administrative violations.

The violations which might become a criminal offence include violations in height parameters, illegal construction works, ignoring an official order to suspend construction and several others.

It is expected that parliament will discuss the bill later in autumn.