Ministry investigates after elevator shaft fall
The Ministry of Labour is investigating after one person fell in an elevator shaft at a construction site in Centretown on Wednesday morning.
Ottawa Fire Services said it was contacted by paramedics at 8:51 a.m. to assist with the incident at 89 Nepean St. Firefighters attached ropes to lift the person to safety.
The person was treated by paramedics. It was unclear how the person fell.
A spokeswoman with the Ministry of Labour said an inspector has been assigned to investigate.
“Details of the incident are not known at this time,” said the ministry’s Janet Deline. “The location is a Claridge Homes project but it has not been confirmed if Claridge Homes is the employer.”
Claridge Homes said it could not provide a statement Wednesday.
A planning rationale on the city’s website said a mixeduse tower development is under construction at the site. One 27-storey mixed-use building was planned for 70 Gloucester St., and a 27-storey tower was planned for 89-91 Nepean St.
Claridge Homes was involved in a construction incident in 2016 in which worker Olivier Bruneau was crushed to death by falling ice in an unsafe excavation pit during the building of Ottawa’s tallest condo in Little Italy.
Claridge pleaded guilty in the case, and apologized for not doing more to prevent the fatality. The company, represented by lawyers Michael Edelson and Tony Paciocco, pledged to do better so an incident like Bruneau’s never happens again.
Sean McKenney, president of the Ottawa and District Labour Council, said Wednesday’s incident is a clear example the company is not living by the standards promised after Bruneau’s death.
“This is the same (company) ... that professed to have safe workplaces and on and on it goes,” McKenney said.