CNE worker hurt while setting up

CEO says injury not related to strike by safety inspectors

Preparations for the CNE got off to a rocky start when a worker injured a leg while working on the Euro Slide, also known as the Rainbow Slide.

CNE chief executive officer, Darrell Brown, said the incident is not connected to a strike by safety inspectors with the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA).

“It has nothing to do with the strike,” Brown said. “Equipment malfunctions sometimes.”

Alexandra Campbell of the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) said that she had heard of the incident and said it was not strike-related.

“The strike by TSSA’s inspectors has not impacted the nature of safety inspections at this year’s CNE,” Campbell said in an email. “All safety inspections that would regularly occur any year for the CNE have occurred. During the duration of the strike, non-union employees, such as supervisors, with the required training, certification, and experience have performed inspections. In some cases, these are TSSA’s most highly qualified amusement-device inspection experts.”

Neil Martin, president of the TSSA safety inspector’s union OPSEU 546, said he is looking into the incident.

The worker was an employee of North American Midway. He was treated in hospital and released, North American Midway spokesperson Lynda Franc said.

“He does have an injury, but he’ll definitely be back to work this summer,” Franc said.

Toronto police spokesperson Stephanie Sayer said the mishap took place at approximately 10 a.m. and that a man was transported to hospital by paramedics with non-life threatening injuries.

The Ministry of Labour is investigating, Sayer said.

The Ministry of Labour did not immediately respond to a question from the Star Thursday evening.