Metron fined in 2009 swing-stage collapse

Metron Construction Corp. was fined $200,000 in the death of four construction workers who died in a swing-stage collapse on Christmas Eve 2009.

TORONTO

Metron Construction Corp. was fined $200,000 in the death of four construction workers who died in a swing-stage collapse on Christmas Eve 2009.

The rare conviction for criminal negligence causing death against Metron is the first of its kind in Ontario under the Criminal Code.

Metron supervisor Fayzullo Fazilov, along with Vladimir Korostin, Aleksey Blumberg and Alexander Bondorev, died after they fell 13 storeys when their swing-stage broke apart on Dec. 24, 2009.

They were working on a highrise apartment building at 2757 Kipling Avenue in Toronto.

A fifth worker, welder Dilshod Marupov, survived the fall, but suffered severe leg and spinal injuries.

In August 2010, the Ontario Ministry of Labour brought 61 charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act against the employer and equipment supplier.

Metron pleaded guilty, but charges against owner Joel Swartz were dropped.

The company had faced a fine of up to $1 million.

DCN NEWS SERVICES

WITH FILES FROM THE CANADIAN PRESS