March 16, 2010

Ontario Federation of Labour wants criminal probe after worker death

The Ontario Federation of Labour is calling for a criminal probe into the death of a construction worker in east-end Toronto last week.

The man was building concrete forms when he fell through a hole on the second floor, plummeting about 10 metres to the basement.

The victim, known to co-workers as Ali, died in hospital later that day.

Friday’s accident occurred at the University of Toronto’s new $70 million Instructional Centre.

OFL president Sid Ryan is calling on police to investigate the accident to determine if criminal charges should be laid against the employer.

He says the law allows for the prosecutions of company officials if they fail to keep workplaces healthy and safe.

Ryan says the March 12th death was the seventh fall-related fatality in as many weeks and “another preventable death.”

“The carnage in our workplaces has to stop.” he said.

-Canadian Press

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