Halifax Regional Councillor Janet Steele is set to present a motion to the council on Tuesday, which aims to address an incident of carbon monoxide exposure in the Timberlea area. The incident, which took place on April 14, saw Halifax Fire and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) responding to a carbon monoxide alarm on Marketway Lane around 9 p.m. Four homes were evacuated for safety due to elevated carbon monoxide levels detected in the vicinity.
Authorities identified the source of the carbon monoxide as being related to nearby blasting activities, as there were no other identified sources within the affected homes. Following the incident, Halifax Professional Fire Fighters tweeted that teams were reassessing the homes impacted by the carbon monoxide and that representatives from the blasting company, along with officials from the Nova Scotia government, were present as part of the investigation.
The day after the exposure incident, on April 15, the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration responded by initiating a work stoppage order against the construction company responsible for the blasting. This order imposed specific conditions that the company had to fulfill before being permitted to resume work. Although the blasting was allowed to continue after the conditions were addressed, further violations were discovered by the Department of Labour, leading to another work stoppage order being issued.
By May 29, the Halifax Regional Municipality took decisive action by revoking the blasting permit for the construction company involved in the incident. Councillor Steele highlighted that since the onset of the issue, there has been a notable lack of clarity regarding which entity is responsible for keeping residents informed about safety conditions and providing them with a contact number for additional information. The Nova Scotia Department of Labour holds jurisdiction over worksite safety and occupational health, but it does not encompass public communication in incidents that extend beyond the worksite.
The motion also reflects the concerns expressed by a group of residents who expect both municipal and provincial governments to provide more comprehensive updates about safety protocols surrounding blasting sites. Within the motion, Steele asks that municipal staff thoroughly summarize the events of April 14 and evaluate the current Halifax Regional Municipality Blasting By-law for its effectiveness in identifying risks associated with blasting. Furthermore, the motion calls for the recommendation of a clear communication protocol concerning safety matters related to blasting activities.
This motion is poised for a vote on June 10, and it underscores the growing urgency for transparency and accountability in managing safety concerns related to construction activities in the region.
