Icicle falls on woman in Rostov

On January 31, an accident occurred in the Western residential area of Rostov-on-Don. An icy icicle fell from a roof onto the head of an elderly woman as she was walking along the path near house 4/1 on Communist Avenue.

The victim was taken to the hospital, and her life is not in danger. Nikita Paremuzov, head of the Sovetsky District, confirmed that the woman was injured and hospitalized.

“Today in our district, a woman was injured due to an icicle falling from the roof of an apartment building. The woman was hospitalized. I contacted the victim. I wished her a speedy recovery. The district administration will provide her with assistance in recovery. Regarding the managing company, I have ordered an inspection. Such inaction will not go unpunished,” Nikita Paremuzov wrote in his Telegram channel.

The incident highlights the problem of managing companies« responsibility for building safety. If roofs and areas are not properly maintained, managing companies can be held administratively liable.

Residents have several ways to influence the situation. First, they should send a request to the managing company to remove icicles and ice. If there is no response, they should contact the head of the managing company, the emergency dispatch service, and also file complaints with the housing inspection, local self-government body, licensing authority, or prosecutor«s office.

Any such complaint becomes grounds for an unscheduled inspection. If violations are recorded, an order is issued, and then a fine may follow under Article 7.22 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation for improper maintenance of common property.

Managing an apartment building is a licensed activity, so the inaction of a managing company violates licensing requirements. For this, separate liability is provided under Part 2 of Article 14.1.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation:

• an official faces a fine from 50 to 100 thousand rubles (approximately $500 to $1,000 at current rates) or disqualification for up to three years;
• the company — a fine from 250 to 300 thousand rubles (approximately $2,500 to $3,000 at current rates), and in special cases — revocation of the license.