He is set to appear in court in June
A crane operator for Barrie-based steel-erector North Steel is facing charges following a workplace accident that had resulted to the death of a construction worker three years ago, as reported in an article by CTV News.
While the firm was also initially given criminal charges, the Crown had recently confirmed that these were withdrawn. However, the crane operator, Donald Balkwill, is still facing occupational health and safety charges.
On June 24, 2021, Corey Phillips had died at the Dunlop Street West job site near Boys Street when a crane had tipped over and fatally injured him. The police officers as well as the investigation of the Ministry of Labour found that the crane had fallen over, causing Phillips to be knocked down and pinned under the beams.
The policed believed that the crane operator did not have a license to operate the crane and alleged that it had been mechanically altered.
Balkwill, and North Steel, who was allegedly responsible for the crane as it supplied and installed steel beams at the construction site, were charged with criminal negligence causing death more than a year after the incident.
The crane operator is set to appear before the court for his charges in June. Notably, the allegations against him have yet to be proven in court.
