02.04.2015

Toronto mastclimber collapse

On Friday last week a mastclimbing work platform collapsed in Toronto, Canada, due to what appears to be some form of structural failure within the mast. One man died on site, while the other seccumbed to his injuries in hospital.

Details or even decent photography has been slow in coming, all we know is that two bricklayers working for Venice Masonry Contractors died after falling around five storey with the collapsing platform.
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The scene shortly after the mast climber collapsed

New rules governing training and fall arrest came into force in the region yesterday, however reports suggest that the failure was caused by a structural failure which is more likely to be related to erection and maintenance issues or severe overloading. Hopefully the facts will come out in an investigation that is currently underway by the ministry of Labour.
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It is hard to see exactly what happened but it seems the mast failed around the fifth floor level

This latest incident follows a fatal mastclimber collapse in Raleigh, North Carolina last Wednesday, See fatal mast climber collapse .
Following the two fatal incidents the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) and Scaffold and Access Industry Association (SAIA)issued a joint statement which is published in full below.

“The Mast Climbing Work Platform Committee/Council of IPAF and SAIA are saddened by the accidents in Raleigh, North Carolina and Toronto, Canada. We would like to extend our sympathies and prayers to the families of those who lost their lives and were injured in these tragic events. This emphasizes the importance, especially in light of the current resurgence in construction, of training, continuing education as well as inspection of equipment”.

“Since their introduction in the 1960’s, Mast Climbing Work Platforms have been used extensively without incident throughout many sites worldwide and in the USA and Canada. Mast Climbing Work Platforms are popular with an array of trades including the masonry, stucco, glass and refurbishment industries where they can offer safety, productivity and ergonomic benefits. When installed and used correctly they are as safe as or safer than other forms of powered access or scaffold”.

“The key to the safe use of mastclimbers is appropriate training. This has led manufacturers and industry bodies to develop robust training programs for both erectors and operators of Mast Climbing Work Platforms”.
“The mastclimbing industry has collectively strived for many years to ensure that all operators and erectors benefit from this level of appropriate training, but since there are no specific national training regulations for mast climbing work platforms in the USA or Canada, employer education and outreach is a continual priority of the industry”.

“The mastclimbing industry will continue to take a proactive approach to employer education and appropriate training and will continue to work with OSHA to find opportunities to reinforce this requirement”.