Ontario Construction News staff writer
Following the second crane collapse in the city in less than a month, Toronto Mayor John Tory has asked the Ministry of Labour “to make sure clear direction is sent to the construction industry as soon as possible and that they consider additional inspections.”
“I am thankful that no one was seriously injured or killed in today’s crane collapse on Dundas Street East,” Tory said in a statement, thanking first responders after the second incident.
Toronto police say a stationary crane fell into a downtown area intersection, narrowly missing two pedestrians, on Thursday morning.
The Daniels Corporation has said mechanical failure was to blame for the collapse.
“Construction at the site has been temporarily suspended and we are fully cooperating with investigators. We have also initiated our own internal investigation into the incident,” the developer said in a statement released Thursday.
Emergency crews were called to River Street and Dundas Street East in the city’s Regent Park neighbourhood shortly after 10:30 a.m.
Nobody was injured at the site.
“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,” Tory said.
“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.”
On July 16, a crane smashed into a downtown Toronto building near Simcoe and Wellington Streets, prompting evacuations of nearby towers.
Tory says the construction industry must “take all precautions possible to keep their sites safe,” and he is encouraging the Ministry of Labour to send instructions to the industry “as soon as possible.”
Health and safety requirements for crane operations fall under the Ontario Ministry of Labour.
Toronto Building has sent an inspector to the Regent Park site to assess surrounding buildings for any impact.
Toronto Building has sent an inspector to the site to assess if there has ben any impact to the building structures.