Ontario's labour ministry investigating incident
One worker was caught on camera hanging precariously from a crane high in the air on Tuesday at a downtown Toronto construction site.
Numerous videos of the incident were posted online, showing the worker dangling as the load was being lowered.
In one video posted on Instagram by user my_s1, one person off-camera was heard saying “Oh my God, how the f--k did this happen?"
The same person and one companion were also heard shouting “Stop!” as the worker was nearing the ground.
In a statement, a spokesperson for PCL Constructors Canada Inc. – the construction company in charge of the project – confirmed that an "incident took place" at the site on Tuesday. The worker's hand was "entangled with a tagline after hooking a load."
"Fortunately, he was safely lowered to the work surface and not seriously injured," the company said.
The worker in the video was hired by contractor Modern Niagara. He was working as a rigger, responsible for ensuring loads of materials are securely fastened before being hoisted by crane operators, PCL said.
The development site is located at the corner of Front Street West and Simcoe Street in the downtown core of the city.
Ontario's Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development was notified about the incident on Tuesday and it sent an investigator to the site on Wednesday, according to a CBC report.
"It was reported that a worker became entangled with a tag line from a crane after hooking a load, was hoisted off the podium level and sustained injuries," the ministry said in an email, according to the report.
PCL is "working with all appropriate authorities" and an investigation is ongoing, according to the company.
Other workers have also previously been harmed in their respective worksite. A construction worker sustained serious injuries after he was hit by a metal at work. The worker was on the sixth floor of the structure when the incident occurred and the fire department’s rope rescue team took the worker safely to the ground from the sixth floor on a basket in a crane. Meanwhile, a 38-year-old construction worker died after getting struck by a cement truck while on the job in Ontario.
Meanwhile, a 38-year-old construction worker died after getting struck by a cement truck while on the job in Ontario.
Previously, Dogtooth Log and Timber Ltd., Big Guns Roofing Ltd., Rai Star Custom Homes Ltd., Lalli Development (2011) Ltd., 0568677 British Columbia Ltd., Kalan Constructions Ltd. and Rainbow Siding Ltd. were also fined for fall protection violations in the workplace.
