Integrating disaster risk management into construction: A UK perspective

Although most disasters are not entirely unexpected and therefore can, to varying degrees, be mitigated for, the construction sector in the UK does not play a sufficiently integrated role in disaster risk management. This paper reports on research that is developing a knowledge database and decision support framework to enable more effective disaster risk management strategies from a construction perspective. Questionnaire surveys and semi-structured interviews were used to review the opinions of professionals involved with activities such as emergency planning, construction, urban planning and insurance on issues related to disaster risk management in the UK. The findings suggest that knowledge and awareness of integrated approaches is poor and the construction sector as a key stakeholder and potential resource is not being used sufficiently. The key recommendations are: construction related stakeholders need to become more involved in groups such as Local Resilience Teams and Forums; risk and hazard awareness training needs to be integrated systematically into the professional training of architects, planners, engineers, developers etc.; and the construction sector should embrace and pre-empt regulatory changes regarding resilient construction requirements.