New measures promise to prevent suicides at the Royal Jubilee Hospital parkade.
Meribeth Burton, a spokesperson for Vancouver Island Health (VIHA), said the organization is installing a barrier on the top level of the Royal Jubilee Hospital parkade to prevent suicides and suicide attempts that lead to self-harm.
B次元官网网址淪ince 2009, there has been one tragic death as a result of a fall,B次元官网网址� she said.
The future height of the parkade with the barrier would be 14.41 metres (not counting the stairwell and elevator shaft). Its current height without the barrier is 12.96 metres. Mesh screens would cover the openings at the lower levels of the parkade as part of the larger upgrades.
Current estimates peg costs at $650,000, with the final cost unavailable until VIHA has tendered the project.
The barrier itself consists of hollow square steel pipes ranging in height from eight feet to nine feet. They would be some 3.5 inches wide and stand about four inches apart.
VIHA plans to start construction this summer when the parkade is less busy.
B次元官网网址淲e have a number of existing safety measures in place including temporary fencing around the top level, surveillance cameras to monitor activity, increased patrols by Protection Services Officers and signage offering help and support to people who might be in distress,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭he new barrier will be one more safety measure in place to better support patients, staff and visitors.B次元官网网址�
The public first heard of the proposal Monday when Saanich council approved a variance for the barrier.
B次元官网网址淢embers of the general public have gained access to the higher levels of this parkade over the past years, and unfortunately, a few have committed suicide,B次元官网网址� said Peter Johannknecht of Cascadia Architects. B次元官网网址淪o Island Health has taken the initiative to introduce a safety upgrade, which we were proposing here.B次元官网网址�
Councillors unanimously approved the requested variance (which still requires final ratification). B次元官网网址淚f we can save lives through a small variance, this is worth supporting,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Colin Plant.
A staff report from Sharon Hvozdanski, SaanichB次元官网网址檚 director of planning, said the proposed guard fence represents a B次元官网网址渢houghtful response to an unfortunate need.B次元官网网址�
She said that the varying heights of the pipes would give the barrier an B次元官网网址渦ndulating, wave-like pattern.B次元官网网址� Their ends would be capped and some pipes would be rotated to create additional interest.
Construction of the parkade was completed in 2000. Saanich at the time granted a variance of 3.4 metres above the permissible height of nine metres.
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