Ottawa

Worker dead in fall at Barrhaven construction site

Ottawa paramedics said one person is dead after falling from the top of a construction structure in the city's south end Monday.

Ottawa paramedics say victim pronounced dead at the scene

Two police vehicles parked next to a construction site
Ottawa police remain at the scene of a fatal fall at a construction site in Barrhaven on Monday. (Faith Greco/CBC)

Ontario's ministry of labour is investigating a possible workplace fatality after one person fell from a building under construction in the city's south end Monday afternoon.

Paramedics said they were called to a construction site near the intersection of Longfields and Chapman Mills drives in Barrhaven at 1:10 p.m. 

The person was pronounced dead at the scene, paramedics said. The cause of the fall was not immediately specified.

The location is the site of a Minto Communities townhouse development project called Anthem.

Several police vehicles remained on scene late Monday afternoon.

Paramedics said the deceased was an "adult worker" but did not provide additional information about their identity as next of kin is still being notified. 

Minto Canada confirmed that the incident involved a trade contractor.

Brent Strachan, Minto Canada's chief operating officer, said in a statement that the company is cooperating with the ministry in its investigation, and is providing counselling and support to their staff. Strachan's statement added that the company is "committed to the safety and wellbeing of everyone on our sites."

In its own statement, the Ontario Ministry of Labour said it was notified of a possible workplace fatality and that a ministry inspector has been assigned to look into it. The ministry was unable to provide further information at this time.

The ministry is required to investigate cases that involve the death or injury of a worker.