October 1, 2009

Stop-work order issued after scaffolding falls at Calgary site

CALGARY

A Calgary construction site now placed under a stop-work notice for a piece of falling scaffolding is the same place where a worker was killed earlier this year.

The city is calling on Occupational Health and Safety to review the Homburg-Harris Centre construction site downtown.

It issued a stop-work notice after a component of scaffolding flew off the 19th floor and landed on a parkade ramp Sept. 26.

The site, under construction by Centron Group of Companies, is the same place where rigger Lance James Orr, 27, was killed May 8 when he was assisting a crane operator to move concrete forms on the 21st floor.

It is also a block away from the construction site where three-year-old Michelle Kresk was struck and killed by a piece of sheet metal during a windstorm on Aug. 1.

Marco Civitarese, supervisor of safety codes, says he is frustrated by the number of recent incidents of debris falling from construction sites.

“We have to come to a better understanding around what they should be doing when weather dictates or whether weather does not dictate,” he said.

“We’ve talked to industry, we’ve talked to Occupational Health and Safety, we’ve given out numerous statements related to safety.”

“We’re asking for a review from Occupational Health and Safety.”

Civitarese couldn’t say whether the site was one of 20 in Calgary already under a review by Occupational Health and Safety launched last month, referring questions to the provincial department which yesterday could not be reached for comment.

He said if the company does not comply with its stop-work notice, the city can issue a stop-work order which are placed on companies that pose a more immediate danger.

Canadian Press

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