KINGSTON, Jamaica – Police have issued a public safety advisory calling for urgent action from operators and construction companies to lower cranes ahead of Hurricane Melissa making impact.

Photos of massive cranes towering over the corporate area have been circulated on social media with calls for them to be secured.

The police on Sunday urged the operators to take immediate preventative action by lowering their cranes to a safe, secured position.

“This measure is critical to mitigate the significant risk posed by these cranes during the passage of Hurricane Melissa. A collapsing crane or falling debris can cause severe injury or death to individuals on or near construction sites and can cause extensive damage to surrounding buildings, infrastructure, and public spaces.”

The police maintained that lowering and securing cranes is a necessary public safety measure to protect community members during the passage of the hurricane.

Melissa is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane on Monday or Tuesday.

“Failure to adhere to proper safety procedures that result in injury to individuals or damage to property will likely lead to both criminal and civil penalties. We anticipate the full cooperation of all construction companies and crane operators in ensuring the safety of our community by taking this critical measure immediately,” the police added.

Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie first appealed to construction companies and crane operators to lower their cranes on Saturday. On Sunday, he told a special media briefing that his appeal had been ignored and warned that any damage or loss of life caused by cranes left upright would see persons being held liable under the law.