Charges laid in Teeple Terrace collapse, industry rethinks safety practices
The London and District Construction Association (LDCA) says it’s not surprised by the charges laid in last year’s deadly building collapse on Teeple Terrace in London, and says it supports the Ministry of Labour for its professionalism in the investigation.
Eight charges were laid in connection with the incident on Dec. 11, 2020 when part of a four-storey condo building under construction collapsed with about 40 workers on site.
Two concrete workers died, 21-year-old John Martens and 26-year-old Henry Harder. Five more workers were injured.
LDCA Executive Director Mike Carter said it was a day that changed everything in the industry throughout the province.
“Teeple Terrace caused all of them to rethink, review, ensure that the practices they engaged in were at the highest standards of the industry.”
Two companies and one individual face charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The charges are as follows:
Against East Elgin Concrete Forming
- Count 1: provide information, instruction, and supervision to a worker to protect the health and safety of a worker, at a workplace located in London, Ontario, contrary to s. 25(2)(a) of the Act.
Against iSpan Systems LP
- Count 2: ensure that a building, structure or any part thereof, or any other part of a workplace, whether temporary or permanent, is capable of supporting any loads that may be applied to it in accordance with good engineering practice, at a workplace located in London, Ontario, contrary to s. 25(1)(e)(iii) of the Act.
- Count 3: ensure that the provisions of s. 87(1)(a) of Ontario Regulation 213/91 were complied with at a workplace located in London, Ontario, contrary to s. 25(1)(c) of the Act.
- Count 4: to ensure that the provisions of s. 87(3)(b) of Ontario Regulation 213/91 were complied with at a workplace located in London, Ontario, contrary to s. 25(1)(c) of the Act.
- Count 5: ensure that the provisions of s. 89(2) of Ontario Regulation 213/91 were complied with at a workplace located at in London, Ontario, contrary to s. 25(1)(c) of the Act.
- Count 6: ensure that the provisions of s. 134(1)(a) of Ontario Regulation 213/91 were complied with at a workplace located in London, Ontario, contrary to s. 25(1)(c) of the Act.
- Count 7: ensure that the provisions of s. 134(1)(b) of Ontario Regulation 213/91 were complied with at a workplace located in London, Ontario, contrary to s. 25(1)(c) of the Act.
Against an unnamed individual
- Count 8: providing advice negligently or incompetently that did endanger a worker at a workplace located in London, Ontario, contrary to s. 31(2) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act R.S.O. 1990, c.O.1, as amended.
Carter said many positive changes have come out of the incident, including a re-evaluation of safety standards across the board.
Mike Carter of the London and District Construction Association speaks to CTV News outside LDCA headquarters on Aberdeen Drive in London, Ont. on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. (Bryan Bicknell / CTV News)
“The engineering needs to be evaluated again so that the designs of buildings have to be inherently safe through construction and use. We have to look at the practices of the work that was done. There may be other items that have to be looked at, more safety training that has to occur, but in due course of time improvements will be made throughout the system.”
CTV News London reached out to the companies charged in connection with the incident and received an email response from iSpan Systems Vice President and General Manager Dwayne Van Harberden.
"This was a tragic accident that claimed two young lives and it was important that we fully cooperate with the Ministry in their investigation. We are aware of the charges."
Labour ministry statement
In a release Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton provided the following statement regarding the charges:
“The Ministry has been working tirelessly to determine the cause of this tragedy and has now concluded its investigation.
"Any company in Ontario that thinks worker safety is just the cost of doing business should think twice because they will quickly feel the full force of the law.
"We owe it to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims to ensure something like this never happens again.”
The first court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 11, 2022.
A number of other lawsuits have also been filed in connection with the collapse.
Meanwhile London police say their investigation is ongoing, but will be informed by the ministry's findings.
- With files from CTV News London's Justin Zadorsky
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.