03-10-2016, 09:51 PM
(03-09-2016, 01:22 PM)MidTowner Wrote:(03-09-2016, 11:51 AM)Canard Wrote: Waterloo has giant Danger/Don't cross here signs there but people just push past the fence anyway.
If it is NOT truly a danger, then it's problematic because it leads to a culture of feeling that it is ok to just ignore signs and do whatever the hell you want. Then someone gets killed by a train or falls down a pit where there really IS a danger, and the project is delayed and opening will get pushed back (which will really annoy me.).
I think this is very well-said. If it’s a case that it’s perfectly safe, then people are being inconvenienced for no reason. I know that some people are crossing at Waterloo, but they are not supposed to be and from what I can observe most people are going around to Duke. As far as the City and Region are concerned, Waterloo and King are both closed, and Duke will be, too. I don’t think they are assuming that the detour is only affecting the risk-averse and the law-abiding.
Two important reasons which seem to be less of a concern in this discussion but are the real reasons for the danger or keep out warnings:
For insurance reasons if GrandLinq doesn't sign and fence these areas (they are doing the same in downtown Waterloo, University area or the Waterloo-Victoria Street closure and everywhere they are undertaking construction) they would have no chance of entering a mitigation defence in a situation where a trespasser is injured or killed. Sometimes it is hard enough to ensure the protection of workers on these sites let alone trespassers.
Secondly, construction sites are heavily regulated in Ontario and this area has both federal and provincial jurisdiction watching over it. Fencing and signage is required by law. At the most simplistic end of things required include hard hats and appropriately coloured outer clothing are required on site and many many more regulations come into play at every minute of the day.
Deterrence is an action that is defensible in court, negligence is not.