Construction safety device creator facing red tape with N.S. government – RisePEI
A Nova Scotia entrepreneur says he’s being met with pink tape in his house province with getting his site visitors security system authorized in Nova Scotia, although it’s been authorized elsewhere.
Mitchell Hollohan is the creator of the Guardian Good Flagger, an automatic, flagged site visitors system that makes development websites safer. It’s primarily a transportable site visitors gentle manned by one particular person with a pill.
He says it has the potential to avoid wasting lives.
“They’re nonetheless on the job, managing the job, however from a protected location and never straight in entrance of site visitors the place they are often hit by a automobile,” stated Hollohan.
The 26-year-old began the mission six years in the past whereas at Dalhousie College. It’s since been authorized in 38 states within the U.S. and eight Canadian provinces — however not Nova Scotia. Hollohan says he’s been working with the Nova Scotia authorities for 5 years to get the Good Flagger authorized within the province, however has been met with pink tape.
“The one province that has continued to push us out is Nova Scotia — our hometown,” stated Hollohan.
12 months-to-date websites the place the Guardian SmartFlagger is in operation.
Mitch Hollohan
“I’ve a board of administrators and buyers who need to see this firm develop, however they proceed to ask me, why am I right here? Why am I in a province that doesn’t assist our mission, our objectives?”
The Division of Public Works declined an on-camera interview, however in an e mail stated it plans to have guidelines for automated flagging gadgets in an up to date site visitors management guide in spring 2023.
“We plan to have guidelines for the automated flagging gadgets within the up to date guide,” stated Deborah Bayer, spokesperson for the Division of Public Works. “We need to guarantee our work zones are protected for employees and motorists.”
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Development Security Nova Scotia says lowering the danger on work websites is paramount, as the chance for error and accidents is all the time current.
“There’s virtually limitless alternative to use expertise to the development sector,” stated Perry Sankarsingh, director of high quality and innovation at Development Security Nova Scotia, “so to the extent that we are able to use expertise to assist enhance communication between employees themselves and site visitors, the folks, that they’re making an attempt to handle, is all the time a step in the best route.”
It’s a step Nova Scotia has been sluggish to maneuver on, as different provinces have authorized the Good Flagger in lower than a 12 months, in accordance with Hollohan.
The Guardian SmartFlagger in use at a development website.
YouTube/Web site 20/20 Inc.
“Nova Scotia just isn’t an enormous income alternative, however on the finish of the day, this product was constructed to enhance the security of site visitors management folks and flaggers, and to not be doing that in my house province, it’s painful,” he stated.
Hollohan stated he would like to hold his firm at house in Nova Scotia, however with out authorities assist, he says he and his expertise may be pushed out of the province.
