BAYERO UNIVERSITY KANO

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

ASSIGNMENT

QUESTION:
Duties, Liabilities and Relationship between Employer, Architect,
Contractor and Clerck of work(CoW) in both Public and Private Practice

COURSE
Building Law and
Arbitration
GROUP MEMBERS
EMPLOYER

 An employer is a person or institution

that hires employees. Employers offer
wages or a salary to the workers in
exchange for the worker's work or labor.
One speaks of wages if the employee is
paid by the hour and of salary if he is
paid a set rate per pay period
The Employers Duties:
Safe Working Environment: An employer must provide a reasonably safe
working environment for his/her employees and according to Common
law, the employer is delictually liable for any damages and injuries of an
on-site or work-related accident.
make the workplace safe.
prevent risks to health
ensure that plant and machinery is safe to us
ensure safe working practices are set up and followeed
make sure that all materials are handled, stored and used safely.
provide adequate first aid facilities
tell you about any potential hazards from the work you do - chemicals and other substances
used by the firm - and give you information, instructions, training and supervision as needed.
set up emergency plans..
make sure that ventilation, temperature, lighting, toilet, washing and rest facilities all meet
health, safety and welfare requirements.
check that the right work equipment is provided and is properly used and regularly
maintained
ARCHITECT

 An architect is a skilled
professional who plans and
designs buildings and generally
plays a key role in their
construction. Architects are
highly trained in the art and
science of building design.
 Architect Duties & Responsibilities
This job generally requires the ability to do the following work:
Lead and develop projects from early concept through design
development.
Prepare drawings, specifications, and construction documents.
Design and document commercial and industrial building projects.
Consult with clients to determine their requirements.
Coordinate preliminary architectural studies for major new structures
and alterations to existing structures and site development.
Organize and manage permit documents.
Work with teams across business lines, in remote locations, and
coordinate with subcontractors.
Resolve complex design issues with innovative and practical solutions.
Contractor
Contractor is a person or firm that undertakes a contract to provide
materials or labour to perform a service or do a job.
 Contractors are responsible for supplying the necessary equipment,
material, labor, and services to complete the project. They hire
specialized subcontractors to perform either a portion or all of the
work. Contractors use Subcontractor Agreements to protect
themselves and the subcontractors they hire.
CLERCK OF WORK
A clerk of works or clerk of the works (CoW) is employed by an architect or a client on a
construction site.
The role is primarily to represent the interests of the client in regard to ensuring that the
quality of both materials and workmanship are in accordance with the design information
such as specification and engineering drawings, in addition to recognized
quality standards.
Making sure that work is carried out to the client's standards, specification, correct
materials, workmanship and schedule
Becoming familiar with all the relevant drawings and written instructions, checking them
and using them as a reference when inspecting work
making visual inspections
 Taking measurements and samples on site to make sure that the work and the
materials meet the specifications and quality standards
Being familiar with legal requirements and
checking that the work complies with them.
having a working knowledge of health and safety
legislation and bringing any shortfalls observed to
the attention of the resident engineer.
 Advising the contractor about certain aspects of
the work, particularly when something has gone
wrong, but this advice should not be interpreted
as an instruction
Duties and liabilities in public services

An architect in public service become an employer's.

Employer is the client and the owner of the project.

Contractor is an employee of employer asssign to perform a particular

duty either supply or construction.
 Clerk of work is also an employee of employer assign to supervised
project but reported to architect.