Cause and level of treatment of injuries from earthquake damage to commercial buildings in New Zealand. Issue 3 (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yeow, Trevor; Baird, Andrew; Ferner, Helen; Ardagh, Michael; Deely, Joanne; Johnston, David
• Is Part Of: Earthquake spectra. Volume 36:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 1254
• Page End: 1270
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: Injuries -- commercial buildings -- database -- non-structural elements -- context of injury -- causes of injury -- risk of injury -- New Zealand; Earthquake engineering -- Periodicals; Earthquake engineering; Periodicals; 624.1762
• DOI: 10.1177/8755293019900775
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 8755-2930

Abstract

This study assesses the number of injuries directly caused by structural and non-structural damage within New Zealand commercial buildings from notable shaking events between 2010 and 2014 and the treatment level required. After applying filtering to a comprehensive New Zealand earthquake-induced injury database, 947 injuries matched this study's scope, of which 174 were fatal. Collapse or movement of non-structural elements caused 556 injuries; though over 85% were treated outside hospitals and none were fatal. In contrast, 60% of the 220 structural damage-related injuries were fatal. The high injury occurrence from non-structural damage highlights its high risk of injury burden. The two leading causes of non-structural damage-related injuries were movement and/or damage of contents (e.g. furniture) and ceiling and services damage. This emphasizes the importance of reducing injury from movement and damage of non-structural elements during earthquake shaking, in addition to reducing fatalities by preventing structural and masonry collapse.