Toronto - Were workers in deadly fall illegal?
Were workers in deadly fall illegal?
Men of Russian descent plunged 13 storeys after scaffold gave way
By CHRIS DOUCETTE, TORONTO SUN
Last Updated: 26th December 2009, 10:39am
The five contractors were doing some work about 13 storeys up on the south side of 2757 Kipling Ave., a highrise apartment building south of Steeles Ave. W., when the deadly accident occurred around 4:30 p.m. yesterday, Toronto Police say.
"They were repairing balconies when, for reasons that are unknown at this time, the scaffolding they were standing on suddenly gave way," Const. Tony Vella said Friday.
Four of the workers fell to the ground and one was left "dangling."
"It's just tragic," Vella said. "The fact that it happened on Christmas Eve makes it even more so."
When emergency crews arrived on the scene they found four of the men on the ground dead, he said. The fifth man was rescued and rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
It's believed none of the men were wearing safety harnesses.
The victims' names have not been released.
Two of the bodies remained on the ground Christmas morning.
Vella said it was too dangerous to remove them because the scaffolding, which appears to have snapped in two, is still dangling precariously overhead.
The Ontario Ministry of Labour has been called in to help with the investigation.
Vella said police will lead the way if it's determined the accident was caused by something criminal.
Building resident Zainab Fatima said she was first alerted to the accident by the multitude of emergency vehicles gathered below her window.
“I saw all these police cars at the bottom so I was pretty surprised,â€
