SASKATOON – Work on the new children’s hospital in Saskatoon has been halted following an incident at Royal University Hospital. A forklift hit the windows on the main floor of RUH.
“At approximately 1 p.m. on Wednesday, the forks of a forklift hit windows on the main floor of Royal University Hospital’s same day surgery department,” said Duane Galloway with Graham Construction.
Galloway said building forms were be hoisted at the time of the incident.
“What we didn’t properly account for was working so closely to the hospital, the length of the forks relative to the lift, or having one of our spotters monitoring the equipment’s distance relative to the building,” said Galloway.
READ MORE: Construction kicks off on phase 2 of Children’s Hospital of Sask.
No one was injured in the incident and officials with the Saskatoon Health Region said surgeries were not affected.
“We understand mistakes happen and we know this wasn’t intentional,” said Dan Florizone, president and CEO of the health region.
“But, we also know we could have been within minutes of causing harm to our patients. What we are looking for now is a more comprehensive safety plan to ensure this construction area is safe. Until that plan is completed to our mutual satisfaction, we will not be resuming construction.”
Monday is the earliest work will resume at the site.
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