Cross-Confidential Reporting on Structural Safety

One of the most effective mechanisms for preventing failure is to learn from previous experiences. Based on this premise, the CROSS system has been operating in the UK for ten years to collect information on the concerns of civil and structural engineers. Reports are submitted by firms and individuals about their experiences during design, or on site, or during in-service operation, which have led to near hits, or failures including collapses. These descriptions are stripped of identifying features and reviewed by a panel of experts who give comments and advice as to how similar situations may be avoided in future. Reports and comments are published in quarterly on-line newsletters and are added to a web site data base. This free resource is used by practitioners, educators, regulators, and others. Trends have included problems with; structural fixings, tension systems, anomalous documentation and imported products, building control, equipment failure, competency, items falling from buildings, contractors changing designs on site, and others. Most of these events would not otherwise have been published and the information would not have been made available for the benefit of industry and the public. The paper will describe the processes used and give case studies together with plans for further development.