Worker declared dead at the scene after falling from fourth floor
A construction worker in Ottawa died after falling from the fourth floor of a project on Monday.
The incident happened at the construction site at 275 Carling Ave.
Ottawa paramedics were called to the site at 1:45 p.m. on reports of a workplace injury.
When the paramedics arrived, they found the worker on the ground near scaffolding, CTV News reported, citing a statement from paramedic spokesperson Marc-Antoine Deschamps.
The worker was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the report.
"This is an individual who woke up this morning so that he could put food on the table at the end of the day and he won't be returning home," said Sean McKenny, president of the Ottawa and District Labour Council, in the CTV News report. "It was something that ought not to have happened and yet it did and our city has lost the life an individual worker needlessly."
The worker was a welder in a hoist who fell from the fourth floor, according to the report, citing staff at the site, according to the report.
A hoist commonly used when constructing high-rise buildings to transport personnel, tools, equipment and materials between floors, according to the American Society of Safety Professionals.
The identity of the worker, however, has not been revealed.
Ottawa Citizen, however, reported that the fatality worked for John Pyke Enterprises, a steel fabricator based in Alexandria.
Also, the building is being developed by Gatineau-based Katasa Group, but the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development identified BurMont Construction as the builder.
“One order was issued to the constructor, BurMont Construction. As the ministry’s investigation is ongoing, we cannot comment further at this time,” the ministry said in a media release, according to the report.
Katasa Group expressed sympathy for the worker’s family.
“Our general contractor, BurMont, is working with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development and Ottawa Police as they are currently conducting their investigation onsite after the incident. We offer our sincere condolences to the worker’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Katasa Group said in a statement, according to Ottawa Citizen.
Meanwhile, BurMont said it is unable to provide further information about the incident “given the ongoing investigation and out of respect for the privacy of those involved,” according to the report.
Ottawa police and the ministry are investigating the incident.
