Crane collapse injures worker at Crosstown LRT construction site

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Image from Toronto Fire Service

Ontario Construction News staff writer

The Ontario Ministry of Labour is investigating after a crane collapsed at a Toronto construction site last week at the Crosstown LRT construction site.

According to Toronto police, a construction worker was taken to hospital with minor injuries after a mobile crane collapsed near Eglinton Ave. East and Mount Pleasant Road.

The crane operator was able to get out of the crane safely with no injuries, said Kristin Jenkins, a spokesperson for Crosslinx, the private consortium building the LRT, adding that it appeared “a sinkhole opened causing the collapse”.

This is the third crane collapse at Toronto construction sites since July.

On July 16, a crane collapsed and hit a building at a construction site located at Simcoe and Wellington streets. Three buildings had to be evacuated in the surrounding area downtown, according to a Tweet from Toronto Police Operations.

On August 6 around 10:20 a.m., a craned collapsed at a construction site operated by The Daniels Corporation near the intersection of River and Dundas streets.

“The ongoing health and safety of everyone on all of our construction sites and in the communities in which we build remains our highest priority,” Sam Tassone, vice-president of The Daniels Corporation said in a statement.

Toronto mayor John Tory also spoke about the second collapse.

“I am thankful that no one was seriously injured or killed in today’s crane collapse on Dundas Street East. Thank you to all our first responders who responded to this incident and continue to be at the scene.

“This is the second crane collapse in our city in less than a month and so we will want to know what exactly happened in both cases and how it can be prevented…While this incident is still under investigation, I encourage the construction industry in our city to take all precautions possible to make sure their sites and cranes continue to be safe.”

According to a report in The Star, engineers say this week’s incident happened when the ground shifted due to soil erosion caused by water – causing the 70-tonne piece of equipment fell over. It had been sitting on a concrete pad for several months, The Star reported.

“The crane was being used yesterday to lift loads at the site and apparently some water did appear and the sink hole opened up and the crane sunk into the sinkhole,” Kristin Jenkins with Crosslinx Transit Solution told reporters at the scene.

“Fortunately nobody was seriously hurt.”

In a statement, the Ministry of Labour said they are investigating the incident and that the employee, who worked for All Canada Crane Corp suffered a leg injury.

“A Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development Inspector and Engineer attended the scene and one requirement was issued to the constructor and one requirement was issued to the employer,” the statement confirmed. “The investigation is ongoing.”

The clean-up was still happening Tuesday night.

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