‘The sky’s falling’: Video footage of plywood falling from Seattle construction site near pedestrians

A construction site in Seattle’s South Lake Union had large pieces of plywood fall from above, barely missing pedestrians on the sidewalk below.

The incident was captured on video by a bystander below, filming two individuals running towards the camera as the plywood flew toward their direction.

Witnesses at the construction site near 7th Avenue on Bell Street reportedly saw construction workers gathering debris from the street after the fall.

“A little unnerving, definitely was like, oh, the sky’s falling,” Audrey Lenox, a server at a nearby restaurant, told KIRO 7.

Not the first time debris has fallen in South Lake Union

A resident nearby reported that similar incidents have happened in the area before. A photo was shared of damage to his apartment building’s awning after a piece of debris fell in January.

“If this is a consistent issue, there should probably be a regulation or at least a talking to with whatever company is in charge of this, because this could really take somebody out,” said Robert Moena, an employee in South Lake Union.

A photo of the damage to a nearby apartment building in January. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)

The Centerville USA Construction Management Team released a statement following the incident.

“Safety is our top priority and we require our trade contractors to take worksite safety seriously and comply with safety standards. Yesterday’s incident resulted from an unforeseen gust of high wind. The construction team and trade contractors have made sure all materials are safely secured on the roof. The team has also completed a thorough investigation with the trades to make sure on-going safety measures on the site.”

A spokesperson for the city’s Department of Construction and Inspections outlined the importance of construction safety in response to the plywood mishap.

“Jobsite safety is paramount during construction, both for the crews and the public,” the spokesperson said. “Construction materials such as plywood should always be tied down or secured during a wind event.”

Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries (DLI) has also been notified of the issue.

The City of Seattle noted that DLI will continue to follow up with the contractor.

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