The cause of a structure failure that left a truss manufacturing facility in Sault Ste. Marie partially collapsed and heavily damaged remains unclear nearly a week later.
Soo Mill & Lumber Company confirmed the incident occurred on the morning of Dec. 15. No employees were at the Sackville Road facility at the time.
The Sault-based company is currently working with engineers in order to determine the cause.
“At this point we don’t know,” said company co-president Jami DellaVedova, when asked what caused the collapse. “We’re working with all appropriate parties to determine the cause.”
The dollar value of the damage to the building has yet to be determined.
Anywhere between 10 and 15 people work at the custom truss plant. DellaVedova said all of those employees are still working, despite the fact that the manufacturing facility remains closed.
It is still unclear when the site will be fully operational.
“We are still working to determine if the building is safe to re-enter, repair and rebuild — all of those questions still remain unanswered,” DellaVedova said.
The partial collapse, which appears to have caused severe damage to the rear of the building, was reported to the Ministry of Labour Dec. 16.
A ministry spokesperson described the incident as a "building structure failure," in an email to SooToday earlier this week.
"While there is no legal requirement under the act to report the failure, a ministry inspector has been assigned to the case," the spokesperson wrote. "The inspector will work with the employer following the collapse to ensure the safety of workers entering and exiting the building."
No orders have been issued by the ministry nor are there any concerns, DellaVedova said.
Soo Mill & Lumber Company thanked Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services, which attended the scene and notified management of the incident.
“We just want to make sure they’re recognized,” DellaVedova said.