Work was being on the Murray Library when the roof caved in
In a startling incident on Tuesday afternoon, several construction workers were injured when a section of the roof of the University of Saskatchewan's Murray Library partially collapsed. The incident prompted an emergency alert from the university, causing concern among students and faculty.
According to a Global News report, the Saskatoon police received multiple distress calls after a portion of the library's roof caved in, trapping a crew of five construction workers beneath the debris. Swift action from emergency responders resulted in three workers being transported to the hospital with minor injuries, while the remaining two were lucky to escape major harm.
Saskatoon Fire Department officials confirmed that one of the trapped workers had suffered a leg fracture as a result of being pinned under the roof panels. Another worker sustained an ankle fracture, while the third worker experienced significant bruising to their body. The injured workers were promptly attended to by medical professionals, and their conditions are currently stable.
At the time of the incident, the Murray Library was undergoing renovations and repairs, which likely contributed to the structural instability leading to the roof collapse. The exact cause of the collapse is yet to be determined, and authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to ascertain the factors that led to this unfortunate event.
A spokesperson for the university tells CTV News the collapse happened during a "selective demolition process where portions of the exterior soffit collapsed." In that same local news report, one witness described seeing the wall of the library move and she heard a loud crash and screams before fleeing the building.
The school is working closely with authorities to investigate the incident and prevent similar accidents in the future. The safety of all individuals involved in the ongoing construction projects across the campus is of paramount importance to the university administration.
Working on rooftops can contain many hazards, including instability as membranes are being removed and replaced. There are several options to mitigate the various risks and hazards posed by work on rooftops, which begins by identifying the issues through a rooftop safety audit.
