Ministry of Labour investigating all 3 incidents that took place Monday
One man is dead and five others are injured following three separate workplace incidents across Ontario on Monday.
The fatality occurred at a Metrolinx rail yard in Mississauga, according to CBC News.
Peel Regional Police said they were called to the facility near Goreway Drive and Zahavy Way at approximately 12:10 p.m. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Metrolinx confirmed the fatality, stating that the incident took place at its rail yard at 6211 Goreway Drive.
“Our thoughts are with the individual and their loved ones during this difficult time,” Metrolinx said in an email, as reported by CBC.
The agency added that it would not comment further while the incident remains under investigation by police and the Ministry of Labour.
Critical injuries, scaffolding collapse
Meanwhile, two construction workers were seriously injured in a trench collapse in Toronto on Monday, reported CTV News.
The incident happened around 11:45 a.m. near Edmund Avenue and Weston Road, according to Toronto police.
Toronto Fire Services extricated the workers, who were buried up to their waists in an eight-foot-deep trench. Firefighters used shoring panels to stabilise the site before initiating rescue operations. Both men were conscious and breathing during the extrication.
Paramedics transported a man in his 50s and another in his mid-20s to a trauma centre with life-threatening injuries.
“I don’t know the history of the work site, but it is a pre-existing excavation,” Toronto Fire Division Commander John Davidson told CTV News. “There is a foundation present plus utilities. So, in those circumstances, the trenches are very unstable because it’s redistributed soil.”
“Trench stability without proper shoring in place—and the warm weather, which dries up the earth—[can lead to] a substantial trench collapse like we witnessed here today,” Davidson added.
The Ministry of Labour is investigating the incident.
Later in the day, three construction workers were injured after scaffolding collapsed at a residential project in Toronto’s east end, according to CP24.
The incident occurred shortly before 1:45 p.m. near Queen Street East and Silver Birch Avenue in The Beaches neighbourhood.
Emergency crews located three men with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. All were taken to a trauma centre. Police later described their injuries as minor.
Trevor Shand, a contractor with GT Shand Contracting, told CTV News Toronto that two of his workers fell from a height of 18 to 20 feet. One suffered a head injury, while another sprained his wrist. The extent of the third worker’s injuries was not disclosed.
“We don’t know why the scaffolding gave out, but you can see the arms are broken on it,” said Shand. “It could have been old scaffolding. I don’t know, but everyone’s fine, so I’m just a little worried about it.”
Shand added that roofing work has been paused and that he is awaiting a Ministry of Labour inspection before resuming activity.
The Ministry is also investigating this incident.
