February 1, 2010

Swing-stage tragedy

Greater Toronto Restoration industry forms safety task force

VINCE VERSACE

staff writer

The Toronto Christmas Eve swing stage tragedy has driven a group of Greater Toronto Area restoration contractors together to create a task force to tackle safety practices in their industry.

“If we are going to get this off the ground it is because of everything that happened that day,” explained Steve Leblanc of Unique Restoration and safety task force member. “God bless the guys who died on Christmas Eve and their families. They are the reason we can push this forward.

“Everyone now has a different mindset — it is a now or never feeling. If we do not pull this off now, it is not going to happen. They are the catalysts for this and the reason we can do this.”

On Dec. 24, 2009, four construction workers plunged 13 storeys to their deaths at a Kipling Avenue apartment restoration site when a swing stage they were on broke apart. Another worker survived the fall, but with serious injuries. The accident thrust the restoration industry, swing stage use and safety practices under intense media and public scrutiny.

In the days immediately after the accident Leblanc, two fellow restoration contractors and a project owner started discussing the accident, how avoidable it was and that something needed to be done.

“We sat down as a group and said that we needed to do something about those that do not pay enough attention to safety,” Leblanc said.

“As a contractor I know how we can stop such tragedies from happening again.

“We started to contact everyone we could find with great support from the TCA (Toronto Construction Association) and the Building and Concrete Restoration Association of Ontario and through word-of-mouth.”

Approximately 32 contractors have already joined the group, agreeing that their level of safety at their work sites must adhere to provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act and Construction Regulations. An eventual goal to is for all members to comply with Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Workwell standards, Leblanc said.

“We are striving to include everyone, not just those in restoration but anyone who works on the side of a building,” he said. “We don’t want to exclude anyone because if we do, it defeats the purpose.”

“We want to set standards as a group and everything is done as a group. We figured we might have to drag some of these guys in kicking and screaming but so far that has not been the case.”

Leblanc noted that over the last two years his company has spent close to $600,000 on safety and that is a personal choice of the company. He said he knows there are companies working at being as safe as they can be.

“The aspect of the amount of money spent is becoming secondary to ensure safety — just getting that type of thinking out there is what we are trying to accomplish,” said Leblanc. “We want to lead the industry in safety right across the board. That is the end goal.”

For more information on the safety task force, contact Leblanc at steve@uniquerestoration.ca

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