Ontario Construction News staff writer
EllisDon Forming Ltd. and two of its supervisors have been fined a total of $130,000 following two separate roof collapses at London construction sites that left four workers with minor injuries.
The company, along with supervisors Corey Jones and Matthew Thompson, pleaded guilty in Ontario Provincial Offences Court in London. Justice of the Peace Kristine M. Diaz imposed the fines on Jan. 22. Crown counsel was Dan Phelan.
The court also applied a 25 per cent victim fine surcharge, as required under the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is directed to a provincial fund that assists victims of crime.
The charges stem from incidents on July 22, 2022, and Jan. 5, 2023, at projects located at 3080 Bostwick Rd. and 131 King St. in London.
In both cases, the company had been contracted to install CANAM Hambro D500 composite floor systems.
According to the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, the company failed to ensure measures and procedures required under section 31(1)(b) of Ontario Regulation 213/91 were carried out, contrary to section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Jones and Thompson were convicted under section 27(1)(a) of the act for failing, as supervisors, to ensure workers complied with required health and safety measures.
The first incident occurred at a penthouse rooftop project on Bostwick Road. Jones was overseeing work where a unique cross-bracing detail was required but not clearly identified on the design drawings. The bracing was not installed. While workers were pouring concrete on the final section of the roof, the structure shifted and collapsed, causing workers to fall to the level below. No injuries were reported.
The second collapse took place at a residential apartment building on King Street. Thompson was supervising work after concrete walls had been completed on the 25th floor and a composite floor system installed on the 26th floor.
Following a pre-pour inspection, workers began pouring concrete. After most of the floor had been poured and while workers were preparing to complete the remaining section, part of the composite floor system collapsed. Four workers fell to the level below and suffered minor injuries.
The ministry said EllisDon Forming Ltd. failed to ensure that every part of a project, including temporary structures, was adequately braced to prevent movement that could affect stability or lead to collapse.
A post-incident investigation by the company led to changes to the CANAM Hambro D500 system and components, including additional design details that were implemented at both projects.
