Unsecured construction sites a danger to the public during Dorian
Posted Sep 7, 2019 03:26:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Hurricane Dorian is projected to make landfall in Nova Scotia late this afternoon, but winds are already picking up across the province.
But this morning, HRM officials took notice of a few businesses that may not be adequately prepared.
“We're getting reports of construction companies that have left a lot of lumber and supplies left out unsecured,” says Erica Fleck, Division Chief with HRM Emergency Management.
Fleck says the municipality is worried that construction items could be picked up by high winds, which are projected to hit up to 140km per hour.
“The bigger concern is the unsecured construction items like large piles of two by fours and ladders and other construction materials,” Fleck says. “Everybody can see that it's really starting to blow hard now and we haven't even really started to see the tip of the storm yet.”
The city has been trying to get in touch with the construction contractors to get them to tie down these materials before the storm gets any worse.
“Police are doing some checks and they're trying to get a hold of the contractors,” Fleck tells NEWS 95.7's The Todd Veinotte Show. “They are going to be very dangerous, so we are trying to reach out to individual companies.”
Fleck says the companies should have protected their construction sites well in advance.
“We're not proactive anymore, we're being reactive trying to contract these companies to get them to secure their things,” she says.
Anyone who sees a construction site near them with unsecured materials is encouraged to call 3-1-1 to report it.
