Ontario Construction News staff writer
Ontario Labour Minister Monte McNaughton vows to “move mountains” to find out what caused a building under construction in London to partially collapse on Friday, killing two construction workers and injuring five others.
“We’ll move mountains to get every answer for these families; they deserve them,” McNaughton said.
John Martens, 21, of Langton, and Henry Harder, 26, of Tillsonburg were killed and four other workers were taken to hospital and another one was treated at the scene of the partial collapse that happened just before noon on Friday.
Speaking at an unrelated event in London on Monday, McNaughton said inspectors and engineers with the Ministry of Labour have been on the site of the collapse and the investigation is ongoing.
A coroner’s inquest is mandatory when a death occurs at a construction site, he confirmed, urging workers to contact the ministry if they feel working conditions are unsafe.
Joseph Mancinelli, president at the Labourers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) Canada released a statement on Monday.
“With heavy hearts, @liunacanada stands with the construction community ad extends our sincere condolences to those impacted by the devastating tragedy,” he wrote.
“We extend our sincere condolences to those impacted by this devastating tragedy and to all workers, families and the construction community. We send strength to the workers who were seriously injured in the partial building collapse and remain hopeful for a full recovery.”
Two of the hospitalized workers were released on the weekend and two others remain in stable condition.
In his statement, Mancinelli said the incident “shook the construction community to its core.”
“Construction is a particularly risky profession and as an industry we must continue to strengthen health and safety to ensure that all workers return home safe and healthy at the end of each workday,” he wrote.
“Like many, we are asking why and how this happened and are confident that answers will be found under the thorough investigation by the provincial ministry of labour.
Speaking on behalf of more than 140,000 workers, Mancinelli thanked emergency responders including London Police Services, London Fire Department, Midlesex-London Paramedic Services and the City of London “for their swift action” on Friday.
“LiUNA and the construction industry stand together with heavy hearts in honour of the lives of Henry Harder and John Martens. We come together as a community to send strength to their family members and stand in honour of all who we have lost due to a workplace accident.”