Department of Labour halts work at Fenwick Tower after scaffolding breaks free

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s Labour Department has halted construction work on Fenwick Tower after issues were uncovered with scaffolding at the south-end building during an inspection Tuesday afternoon.

Scaffolding at the apartment building, which is under renovations, broke free in high winds Monday evening, which caused what construction workers and residents say were pieces of plywood to fall 32-storeys to the ground.

No one was hurt in the incident, but spokesperson for the Department of Labour and Advanced Education Lisa Jarrett said that Occupational Health and Safety officers conducted an inspection Tuesday afternoon, which resulted in five stop work orders being issued surrounding scaffolding.

“Work has been stopped at the site and will only resume once a part of the scaffold system has been certified by an engineer,” Jarrett said in an email.

“These orders will ensure that the scaffolding in question meets the regulations and that there is no risk to public safety.”

Tiffany Chase, spokesperson for Halifax Regional Municipality, said the area was re-opened to traffic, pedestrians and residents once it was deemed safe Tuesday morning, with the Department of Labour then notified by Halifax Fire.

Chase also said a municipal compliance officer would visit the site Tuesday to take a look at what happened and to speak to the contractor to ensure any issues regarding loose materials were addressed “to avoid a similar incident going forward.”

Chase said a formal investigation has not been launched by HRM because there is no applicable by-law or building code related to falling debris, but the process is being used as due diligence “to ensure public safety is maintained around the site.”

Workers were freely coming and going from the site on Tuesday morning before the stop work orders were issued in the afternoon.

Fenwick Tower residents were free to come and go after crews cleared the scene just after midnight Tuesday, while other streets in the area were re-opened around 3:30 a.m.

Zach and Emily have lived in the building since the start of September and didn’t want their last names used but said on top of falling debris, they were also concerned about shoddy, rattling windows.

“Our windows were wobbly and we were scared they were going to blow in on us,” Emily said, adding they moved the bed to cover the window, just in case.

“The windows seem very weak,” Zach said, adding the overall nature of the two incidents was very concerning.

Another resident said the debris seemed like a one-off incident, a freak accident, and was more frustrated with being stuck in the building most of the evening.

Templeton Properties is responsible for the building and did not return a request for comment on Tuesday.