Ministry of Labour still investigating two Hamilton accidents, one fatal

A 64-year-old man who was pinned under a massive slab of concrete that broke free from the side of a dam in Flamborough Thursday is in critical but stable condition, according to Hamilton police.

The Brantford man was taken by air ambulance to Hamilton General Hospital after emergency responders worked for hours in the heat to free him.

A crane lifted the huge piece of concrete — estimated to weigh a few thousand pounds — from his legs, which allowed firefighters and paramedics to remove him from the rocky terrain at the bottom of the Progreston Falls dam.

The man and another worker had been checking on repairs to the Carlisle-area dam when he became trapped from the thighs down around 11 a.m.

The Ministry of Labour attended the site and issued one order not to disturb the scene, spokesperson Janet Deline said. An inspector returned Friday to continue investigating, she added.

The ministry is also looking into what led to a workplace accident that killed a man at Janco Steel Ltd. in Stoney Creek on Thursday.

Emergency crews were called to the Arvin Avenue plant for a man who had been pinned by a steel coil that fell from its rigging while it was being hoisted.

The worker suffered a head injury and died at the scene, Deline said.

Janco issued a statement saying operations at its facility were suspended Friday to grieve and support one another.

“Janco Steel Ltd. and its management are working and co-operating fully with authorities to determine the events of this tragedy,” the statement reads. “Out of respect for our dear colleague’s memory and family, we will not provide any additional details of the accident.

“We are devastated by this tragic accident and loss of life.”