Fatal Scaffold Collapse Brings Charges
A Christmas Eve 2009 scaffold collapse that killed four migrant workers in Toronto and badly injured a fifth worker has brought multiple OHS charges against two companies and managers.
The Ontario Ministry of Labour has laid 30 charges against Metron Construction Corp., along with 16 charges against a company director and eight against a supervisor.
Swing “N” Scaff Inc., which supplied the platform that collapsed, faces four charges, while a company director has been charged with three OHS violations.
The Ministry of Labour did not name the three individuals facing charges.
Five workers were repairing balconies at a Toronto apartment block when the scaffold upon which they were working gave way, plunging the men 13 stories to the ground. Miraculously, one of the men survived, suffering serious spinal and leg injuries.
The survivor, Dilshod Marupov, 22, is reportedly still in constant pain and can barely get out of bed. He has launched a lawsuit seeking $16.3 million in damages.
Among the numerous OHS charges against Metron are allegations of:
- Failure to ensure that a worker on or getting on or off a suspended platform/suspended scaffold wore a full body harness connected to a fall arrest system.
- Failure to ensure that a suspended platform was maintained in a condition which does not endanger a worker.
- Failure to ensure that an outrigger beam was secured against horizontal or vertical movement and had securely attached counterweights designed and manufactured for the purpose.
- Failure to ensure that a competent worker inspected a suspended platform or suspended scaffold daily.
- Failure to ensure that a worker received adequate training and oral and written instructions on fall protection and scaffold loading from a competent person.
The charges against Swing “N” Scaff Inc. include:
- Failure to ensure that a suspended platform was in good condition.
- Failure to ensure that a suspended scaffold or platform was designed by a professional engineer in accordance with good engineering practices.
- Failure to ensure that a suspended scaffold or platform had required design drawings.
Info to go: Read more about scaffolding safety by clicking on the Info to Go safety links at www.SafeSupervisor.com
