Outcry over 2 construction worker deaths in same week in Ontario

The Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario is calling on the provincial government to take action after two construction workers were killed in the same week.
On June 27, a construction worker was hit by a dump truck and killed in Milton, Ont. And on June 23, 22-year-old Sarmad Iskander died after falling from a condo construction site in downtown Toronto.

Both incidents are currently under investigation.

“We are tragically witnessing a pattern of needless, completely preventable workplace deaths,” said Patrick Dillon, business manager of the council. "These unspeakable tragedies where people go into work to provide for their families, and never come back are not just unacceptable, they are incomprehensible and we must end them now."

Dillon is urging Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne to take drastic action to address this "epidemic" and "ensure that every possible effort is made to prevent further carnage," he said.

Regardless of what job they hold, every worker in Ontario has the right to expect a safe work environment that employers must provide and governments must enforce, said Dillon.

“Ontario’s prevention authorities, the Ministry of Labour, WSIB, employers and organized labour bear the responsibility to protect workers from harm and the only way we will see safer workplaces is if they all step-up to the plate."

The Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario represents 150,000 trades workers acres the province.