The collapse of the Teeple Terrace building in London, Ontario, left several people dead and injured. One victim said that the fines imposed on the companies involved were not enough.
Jacob Hurl says that in the end, it is the workers who pay the price for these mistakes, and some even pay with their lives.
Workers pave roads, workers build houses, workers build cars, and many residents live their lives because of these workers. So I really don't understand why we are treated like this when we are hurt. ”
Hurl was one of four workers who were seriously injured in an accident at the 555 Teeple Terrace construction site in London when a part of the building that was pouring concrete collapsed. Two cement workers were killed, John Martins, 21, and Henry Harer, 26.
Two construction companies in Oxford County, Ispan Systems LP and East Elgin Concrete Forming Ltd, were fined $400,000, according to a release from the Department of Labor.
On Friday, Anson announced that Ispan Systems LP had been fined $260,000 and East Elgin Concrete Forming Ltd had been fined $140,000 after pleading guilty under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
In addition, the court has imposed a 25% surcharge on victim fines to assist victims of crime.
Construction worker Jacob Hull
According to Ontario, "the ISPAN system ***ISPAN) failed to ensure that the building, structure, or any part thereof could withstand any load that may be applied to it" and that "East Elgin Concrete Forming *** East Elgin) failed to provide proper information, guidance, and supervision, particularly in the use of appropriate concrete measurement techniques in the project." ”
"I think, if they think it's just a fine that's easy to pay, then why would they do this?" ”
According to Hull, the labor law prohibits him from filing a civil lawsuit in this case.
When it comes to the investigation, he said he was not allowed to make statements about victim influence. But most troublingly, he said, he doesn't think fines will make Ontario's workplaces safer.
"I think it's a kind of stab in the back to every blue-collar worker in this province," he said. "I have a feeling that basically Ontario ** doesn't really seem to care about you. Because if they really want to do it, they should punish these companies. ”
Neither company responded to requests for comment at the time of writing.