A construction site in North York became the scene of a fatal accident on Wednesday evening when an excavation pit collapsed, killing one worker and severely injuring two others. Emergency crews were called to Bayview Avenue and Ruddington Drive just before 5:30 p.m. The collapse occurred during a sewage pipe inspection, where the workers attempted to insert a camera into the pipe. Toronto Fire Platoon Chief Chris Rowland explained that the excavation was not properly shored, causing part of a wall to buckle and three cubic yards of soil to fall, trapping the workers.
Emergency crews responded quickly, using ropes, ladders, and hand-digging tools in a challenging operation that lasted over an hour. Two workers were successfully rescued and transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, but the third worker was pronounced dead at the scene. Rowland praised the rescue teams for risking their lives, saying, “These two gentlemen survived because the two crews inside that hole risked their lives.”
The Ministry of Labour has launched an investigation, and Toronto police are interviewing representatives from the construction company involved. Rowland, a veteran trench rescue expert, expressed shock and dismay at the lack of safety measures, calling it one of the most dangerous situations he has encountered in his 38-year career. The incident highlights the critical need for adherence to trench safety regulations to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Original source: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/i-have-never-seen-a-danger-like-this-one-dead-two-injured-after-pit-collapses/article_b83f054a-9c94-11ef-8765-4b9610b76d50.html
Author: Daniel Ramos
