Initial investigations on the recent collapse of the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility in the city of Irving, Texas exposed some issues on legality related to planning, building and maintaining the facility.  Reports revealed the lack of the building’s blueprints and other specifications as well as the lack of an engineer’s seal on the planning documents.  These and some other lapses may seem menial at first, but they can prove to be very important – especially in case facilities collapse and lives of people are harmed.

Owners, building contractors, engineers and even the local authorities can learn from this incident.  Here are some lessons from the Dallas experience.  Take note of them and make sure you don’t make the same mistakes.

• Keep records and copies of all work-related documents such as blueprints and other building specifications.  Submit required files to the proper authority.  Apparently, the city of Irving lacked files of the facility, including a record of the engineer who signed off on the facility’s design.

• Make sure that your planning documents have an engineer’s seal.  Remember that those who violate this will be punished.

• Check that your facility builder has a state license.  They need this before they can build or even design your facility.  The investigators of the states’ board of engineers found that the builder of Cowboys’ had no license when they designed and built the facility.

• Follow the local building code.  Have any re-covering or any improvement on your facility inspected.  The Cowboys’ roof was reportedly replaced last year but no inspection on it was done.

• Examine the reputation of your facility’s builder.  Their years of experience should be matched by good records.  The company that built the Cowboys facility has a record of a building that collapsed years ago, allegedly due to the company’s negligence in design and construction.

• When your facility collapses, have it inspected (usually by the National Institute of Standards and Authority) for future recommendations.  Don’t let others experience the same fate due to the familiar lapses in legality.

Other lessons that can be useful in preventing such accidents are:

• Maintain your facility properly and regularly.  Always eliminate hazards.

• Provide safety measure for your facility’s occupants.  Train your workers too on what to do and who to call in case of emergencies.  Always be prepared.

• Know and follow the law.  Don’t wait for any accident to happen before you keep up with your local standards and policies.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is reportedly set to release a report on the Cowboys’ incident in about six months.  Hopefully, more valuable lessons will be learned from this and applied in the building and construction industry.