Safety standards are important when building peoples’ homes. Who should be responsible for enforcing strict building codes – the government or the people who build the homes?
State. Why?
They have the authority and resources to ensure strict compliance. Almost everyone will follow since they do not want to be penalized
They have the expertise to also cross-check and update the norms according to the requirements - they can create area-specific requirements such after conducting seismic studies
People building homes
They are the ones who are actually doing to the construction
This will ensure smooth deployment without any bias
They will be directly impacted by any mishaps
Of late, a fierce argument has been doing rounds about who should take the onus of deploying building by-laws to oversee appropriate construction of dwelling units. While some believe lawmakers should be responsible for this, others lay the onus on those undertaking such activities.
To begin with, an army of experts believes that people should take the onus of following security regulations; they are the ones who actually construct homes. Moreover, they can ensure the smooth development of their residential places without any bias to ensure the safety of their families and the surroundings. Adding to this, they will be direct victims of any mishaps happening due to even their minute negligence. For example, people using substandard material in building residential units create hazardous conditions for themselves and their neighbors and heighten the chance of humongous damage to material and life in case of any natural or man-made accidents.
Nevertheless, some defy the former notion and propounds that since policy makers possess the power to create the laws for the welfare of the public at large, and can take strict actions against the defaulters, even penalizing them to ensure that everyone follows the implemented norms without any reluctance, they should this mantle. Also, they have all the resources to provide appropriate guidance and even modify, or update them with changing trends and requirements of the world. Similarly, they can form area specific rules to bolster the protection level of the individuals, affording them conventions that can ensure appropriate safeguards against unwarranted events like natural calamities.
Overall, I opine that since governing bodies have the authority and funds to form the laws to ensure welfare of the citizens and everyone follows the enacted norms willingly, they should don the mantle to ensure adherence to building norms.
