Builder pledges review after construction workers hurt by floor collapse
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The Fire Service says a midday rescue of construction workers injured by collapsing concrete at an under-construction tower block in central London “could have been a lot worse”.
Construction workers gather at 131 King Street in London on Thursday January 5, 2023 following a construction site accident. (Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press) Article content
London Fire Brigade officials say a midday rescue of construction workers injured by collapsing concrete at a tower block under construction in central London “could have been a lot worse”.
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Four people working on the 25th floor of 131 King St were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries after London Fire Brigade pulled them to safety.
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“Certainly it could have been a lot worse if people were trapped under the rubble and we had to get in and remove some of this heavy concrete and other material that was there,” train chief Gary Mosburger said.
The Fire Brigade have been called to assist Middlesex-London paramedics after injuries were reported at the new building east of Talbot Street in central London.
The concrete floor over the injured workers had been poured. Before that, the ground needs to be supported, and once it has hardened, the workers can walk on it.
While workers poured the concrete and braced the ceiling that would become the 26th floor above, some of the material broke away and workers became trapped under the rubble, Mosburger said.
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The firefighters had to get to the injured. The construction elevator took them to the 19th floor and they climbed the rest. The injured had to be taken down the four floors before being placed in the elevator and taken to safety and treatment.
“It took a lot of muscle power to get these people down safely so they could get out,” Mosburger said.
He added that the firefighters, with the help of the construction workers, were able to quickly bring the situation under control.
“They were certainly instrumental in getting us access and finding out what the local dangers were at the height of the incident and were able to bring it to a very positive conclusion,” he said.
The provincial labor ministry has been tasked with investigating.
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The project is being built by York Developments.
In a statement released Thursday afternoon, the contractor said the partial collapse of the floor occurred during a concrete pour by the subcontractor at the site.
“We are grateful that no serious injuries have been reported and we are now in the process of gathering more information. Occupational safety and public safety are at the core of our business and we will be conducting an internal review with EllisDon to ensure compliance with our mandated safety protocols.”
York Developments is a London-based real estate developer. It is one of the busiest developers in the city, with high-rise towers also being proposed for 50 King Street and Ann and St George Streets in the core area, as well as several towers being proposed and under construction in the Bostwick area.
The King Street Tower will have 31 stories with 266 units and is expected to open to the public in 2023.
The terse call commemorated the death of two construction workers on December 11, 2020 at the Nest complex on Wonderland Road when a freshly poured concrete floor collapsed.
With files by Norman De Bono
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