Minister: Emergency Evacuation Of Global House
The emergency evacuation of Global House yesterday morning [July 3] was after an air conditioning unit on the northern end of the roof caused vibrations and noise, Minister of Public Works Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said.
Speaking in the House of Assembly today, the Minister said, “Several Government staff and clients had evacuated the Government building following reports of significant vibrations and loud knocking noises.
“The Ministry of Public Works technical officers and engineers were immediately on the scene in order to carry out investigations on the third and fourth floors.
“It was determined that the vibrations and noise originated from an air conditioning unit, housed on the northern end of the roof.
“On closer inspection of the unit, it was determined a fan blade, a part of the motor, had broken off and caused the unit to operate in an unbalanced manner.”
The Minister’s full statement follows below:
Mr. Speaker, I rise to today to inform this Honourable House concerning the emergency evacuation of Global House that took place yesterday morning.
Mr. Speaker, several Government staff and clients had evacuated the Government building following reports of significant vibrations and loud knocking noises. The Ministry of Public Works technical officers and engineers were immediately on the scene in order to carry out investigations on the third and fourth floors. It was determined that the vibrations and noise originated from an air conditioning unit, housed on the northern end of the roof.
Mr. Speaker, on closer inspection of the unit, it was determined a fan blade, a part of the motor, had broken off and caused the unit to operate in an unbalanced manner. The unit, which was subsequently shut down by the air conditioning technicians, sits on a metal frame that is bolted directly to the concrete roof deck, and consequently, the vibrations and noise transferred from the unit through to the building’s steel framing. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, this led to some of occupants of the building experiencing more vibrations and noises than others in the offices, and resulted in understandable anxiety.
Mr. Speaker, after the inspection, the Ministry of Public Works technical officers, the Permanent Secretary and I met and addressed the staff on the sidewalk outside of the building to apprise them of what had occurred.
Mr. Speaker, at that briefing, concern was expressed regarding the shutting down of the air conditioning unit and its impact on the supply of fresh air delivery and exchange to the building. Accordingly, staff was advised that only the fourth floor would be impacted as the unit in question supplies conditioned air only to that floor. The rest of the building runs on a separate plant for the main supply of conditioned air. Staff from the fourth floor were advised to leave their office doors ajar so that the air can circulate through the floor space to help keep conditioned air at a comfortable level while the Buildings Team undertakes the repairs to the air conditioning unit.
Mr. Speaker, notwithstanding the explanations, some staff were reluctant to return to the building without having first spoken with their Union representative and receiving written notice that it was safe to enter the building. Within short order, Mr. Ed Ball, General Secretary of the BPSU was on site. Simultaneously, the notification, initiated by the technical officers after their assessment, was disseminated by DCI and received by staff. These actions together helped to quell the concerns, and all staff returned to work.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Public Works and its Department of Public Lands and Buildings wishes to extend its sincere apologies for the incident, the inconvenience and the anxiety that were caused by this mechanical fault. The Ministry would also like to take this opportunity convey its appreciation to Mr. Ball and the DCI for their quick response, and, in advance, to the occupants of Global House for their understanding while work is undertaken to repair the air conditioning system as quickly as possible.
Thank you Mr. Speaker
-
Hmmm…wonder how long it took to get the unit shut down?
Somebody had to report the noise, in writing, to their supervisor, who had to report it to their section head, who had to report it to the department secretary, who had to report it to the department head, who had to report it to the building maintenance manager, who had to find the maintenance foreman, who had to determine that it was the air conditioner, then report back to the maintenance manager, who had to contact the air conditioner maintenance people, who……..
@triangle, don’t forget after all that, the workers then needed to have someone write a letter to assure them it was ok to go back in and along with that had to have their union head mr ball come down there and say it is ok to go back to work?? I guess now, mr ball is a structural engineer who also is an air conditioning AX PERT???? UN FRICKEN REAL, the waste of time the CS create for their benefit?????
I have to shake my head at the sheer stupidity of people criticizing the decision to evacuate. I wonder how many of you all would have stayed in a building that was shaking without knowing the source?
What if the building had collapsed, with catastrophic injuries and numerous lives lost? People would have been screaming for heads on a stick. You just can’t win.
It’s easy to sit back and knock the decision afterwards, but the fact remains they didn’t know what the problem was and had to err on the side of caution.
FINALLY, someone with brains that makes sense!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you knew how he ran his own business it would come as no surprise to you.
Really youainksers??? Being you don’t know me and have no clue what by business is and what it does, I find it very interesting that you can make a bold lie statement like that?? I will take this opportunity to rub some salt in your wounds!! My business is extremely profitable and my wife and I own it 100%, I put our success down to a few things! 1, my wife and I work hard at it, 2, we run a very tight ship and 3, we followed your great ex leader dreb, by NOT allowing anything to do with a union into our business!! Remember your dreb resisting at all costs recently with his medical practice?? Me thinks even he knows the damage in this day and time, what any union will do to your bottom line???? And this action was a total waste of time by the CS/union once it was determined it was the AC unit??? Waiting around for letters to be drawn up and also waiting for a union head to show up that knows nothing of structural engineering or AC units is just laughable at best????
And this had to be brought up in the “House”.
Get real.
Tell the media what you said to “The Speaker” and flippin move on.
Hell… a robbery and a fatal accident are not the “House”‘s concern.
Shalom.
I was at work yesterday on the 4th floor of Global House and experienced what felt like a sudden tremor or something similar. Of course I wondered what was going on, particularly as the shaking continued on a lesser scale. Our office manager/fire warden advised that we should evacuate the building and contact our Building Manager at Public Works to ensure the safety and integrity of the building. The shaking really was that unnerving. A short time later, the Minister and PS arrived on scene and the Building manager, who I believe is an engineer, explained what occurred with the air conditioning unit, causing the building to shake. At that point, I was satisfied and comfortable to return to work. Our decision to leave the building once the shaking occurred and continued was simply sensible and in line with the Government’s Health and Safety policy.
That’s refreshing to hear after reading trash from de Anti-Union, Anti-P.L.P and Anti-Govt. Workers Dip-Sticks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Until public works does actual preventative maintenance there will be more events similar to this. Minister and PS listen to me, the money allocated for public works yearly for buildings is a joke. You cannot expect them to oversee over 800 and something buildings and have like maybe 5 or so a/c staff. You should have service agreements with different qualified vendors island wide or keep putting band aids on things……doing things in house is not efficient or effective, and the managers I’m sure could tell you that. I wish this ministry would get someone that actually has a clue about maintenance and buildings and how to improve operations. I’ve yet to see someone passionate about making a change in this ministry, and who is QUALIFIED.