FATAL WORKPLACE ACCIDENT JUNE 23 AT ALEXANDER RETIREMENT HOME IN GRAVENHURST INVESTIGATED
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
GRAVENHURST — A workplace accident two weeks ago today that police say claimed the life of an outside worker at a new retirement home under construction is being investigated by the OPP and Ontario Ministry of Labour Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development officials.
The construction worker was airlifted to Sunnybrook hospital in Toronto with serious injuries Friday June 23, around suppertime, after a piece of lift equipment tipped over on the south side of the multi-storey building.
The contractor was apparently working on applying exterior stucco to the Alexander ‘Seniors Living & Care’ residence on Isaac Street overlooking Lake Muskoka and the Muskoka Wharf.
The residence is due to open next spring.
The worker was employed by Design Exteriors, of Aurora, a subcontractor for the main builder Greystone Project Management, of Huntsville.
Repeated calls to both companies this morning weren’t returned for comment.
And Leonard Ojha, president of the Alexander, also didn’t respond either.
The lift with a basket on it fell onto the south neighbouring property of Barb Christensen.
And it took until the middle of this week to remove it after a larger crane was brought in from Niagara Falls to assist.
According to the ministry — in an email to MuskokaTODAY.com Friday — they were notified of a workplace injury in Gravenhurst.
Jennifer Rushby say the employer is Design Exteriors Inc. and the Constructor is Greystone Project Management Inc.
On June 28 they learned the worker had succumbed to their injuries.
A ministry inspector and engineer have attended the scene.
As of today, the ministry has issued three requirements to the employer and three requirements to the constructor.
As the ministry’s investigation is ongoing, they cannot provide further information at this time.
They did not say what the conditions were or if the man was in the lift basket or standing beside it.
But Rushby added: “Our sincere condolences go out to the worker’s family, friends and coworkers.”
Various neighbours along Isaac Street said they were told the accident victim was a young man and recent immigrant from Turkey who had a child and a wife who was pregnant.
Elaine Barnes, who lives at the corner of Issac and Sarah streets, said she was out walking her dog, Sally, about 6:30 p.m. when she heard a man running up the street yelling and screaming.
Meanwhile, work inside and outside continues.
The site supervisor, reached at the Alexander today, offered a “no comment.”
And Greystone construction manager Darrin Miles also didn’t want to speak when reached early this afternoon.
“It’s under investigation. That’s all I’m allowed to say. I don’t really know much about it.”
He said he wasn’t on site that day.
“We’re just watching our words right now. It’s under investigation with the Ministry of Labour, that’s all. So I can’t say too much.”
“I don’t really want to say anything. It’s not up to me.”
He referred callls to “upper management” and said “I don’t really want to say too much anymore, as the accident is under investigation. “It’s not up to me to say.”
He would only say is it was a “man lift.”
Design Exteriors, which does commercial, residential and public institution work, says on its website — which bears the WSIB logo — that it is “a full service EIFS/stucco and restoration company” doing “calking and sealants, balcony membranes, coatings, and trough wall flashing.
“We focus on installation of exterior cladding systems regardless of all sizes and types of projects.”
It says it has worked on multiple projects across Ontario.
“Our goal is to transform the construction industry with our innovative approach to the art of building and renovating, guaranteeing nothing, but extraordinary service for our clients.
“Compliant to its core: Not just the strongest and detailed construction service, but safe and reliable too. We are building our legacy on four values.”
They have a WSIB logo on their website.
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