Sat | Oct 25, 2025

Developers and landowners urged by KSAMC to secure construction sites amid impending storm

Published:Friday | October 24, 2025 | 6:07 PM
File photo
File photo

The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) is urging all developers, contractors, and landowners to take immediate action to secure their construction sites in light of Tropical Storm Melissa, which is expected to bring heavy rainfall across Jamaica.

The KSAMC says developers are responsible for ensuring that soil, debris, or other materials from their sites do not wash onto public roads, public drains, or adjoining properties.

As such, they have been instructed to secure all loose soil, construction materials, and equipment and put measures in place to prevent erosion and landslips.

Further, developers are being asked to have the necessary equipment and personnel on standby to clear any blockages caused by debris or slippage from their site.

Additionally, steps should be taken to secure all items on the site that can be dislodged and become missiles.

Meanwhile, sites with operational tower cranes should ensure that all such items are properly anchored to their associated structures, as prescribed in approved plans or as directed by a professional structural engineer.

Cranes must be placed in ‘wind vane mode’ after completing a full 360-degree rotation to ensure no obstacles are in the swing path.

If any obstacles are present in the 360-degree path, the crane must be adjusted in height or disassembled so that a full rotation can be completed safely without collision.

The KSAMC says it will hold developers/contractors/landowners accountable for activities on their sites, and failure to take adequate precautions may result in enforcement action under the relevant laws and regulations.

“Your urgent cooperation is required to safeguard the public and reduce the risk of damage during the passage of the storm.”

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