The Leaning Tower of Pisa
On January 7th, 1990, Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa was closed for the first time in its 800 year history. Built on a poor foundation, the bell tower for the Pisa cathedral started its famous lean in 1178 – while still under construction. The threat of collapse finally became too urgent to ignore, and officials invested well over $25 million in an 11-year project to stabilize the tower. In retrospect, it would have been inconceivable to let the tower collapse – but mitigating hazards is often a low priority. Conduct a quick check of your office looking for some easy fixes: strap cabinets to wall studs, use museum wax to secure breakables, remove clutter, and otherwise begin 2008 with a safer, more prepared physical space!
