Yellowknife, NT (June 19, 2015) – Today, the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission, Prevention Services, issued Imminent Danger directions as part of an inspection report of the Polaris Apartments in Yellowknife.
The directions stemmed from a June 14, 2015 fire that caused significant damage to the Yellowknife apartment building, rendering it structurally unstable.
Using information provided by the property owners including their assessment of the site, WSCC Safety Officers deemed the property to be a source of imminent danger to the health and safety of persons employed on or in connection with the establishment.
Under section 4(1)(b) of the Northwest Territories Safety Act, employers must take all reasonable precautions to ensure the health and safety of every person in their establishment.
Effective immediately, Polaris Apartments remains closed to all persons other than those professionals hired to further assess and remediate the site.
“I sympathize with the residents, and understand they want to enter the property to retrieve their personal belongings. Our job is to ensure that everyone remains safe. It is not safe to enter the building”, says Judy Kainz, WSCC Director of Prevention Services.
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Kim Walker
Manager, Communications
T: (867) 920-3846
TF: (800) 661-0792 ext. 3846