The Ministry of Labour (MOL) has taken over an investigation from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) into the death of a carpenter at an industrial site in Nanticoke, Ont.
"We have done our investigation and it was not criminal in nature," said Const. Mark Foster, Haldimand County OPP.
"So, it has now been handed over to the Ministry of Labour."
According to Foster, the OPP investigation revealed that a labourer identified as 34-year-old Christopher Powless of Brantford, Ont. fell from "an exterior caged ladder".
As a result of the fall, Powless sustained life threatening injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the attending coroner.
The incident happened on May 11 at about 1:50 p.m. at 225 Concession Road #2, Walpole, Haldimand County, Ont., which is an Imperial Oil refinery located in southern Ontario on Lake Erie.
"We are investigating and have been undertaking an investigation since we were advised about the incident," said William Lin, MOL spokesperson.
"It has been confirmed the worker passed away on the scene. At this time, it has not been determined whether or not this fatality is work related."
Lin said the MOL has issued an order to Imperial Oil Limited pertaining to the installation of a mid-rail guard rail.
Powless was employed by Wisconsin-based Safway, which offers expertise in access, scaffolding, insulation, fireproofing, surface preparation and coatings.
"One of our workers died while he was working, but at this time we have not been able to confirm whether it related to a health issue or not," said Karla Cuculi, Safway vice-president of communications.
"He was alone at the time so we don’t know the cause. We are still waiting on confirmation on whether it was a personal health issue."
Cucili said Safway has an on-going contract to provide insulation and scaffolding. The company has support services on site and Powless was one of the crew members there.
The company is offering grief counseling to its employees who were on site during the incident.
Powless was a Journeyman Red Seal Carpenter with nearly 10 years of experience working with United Brotherhood Carpenters Local 18 in Hamilton, Ont.
"Regretfully, I can confirm that a worker died at Imperial’s Nanticoke refinery," said Killeen Kelly Imperial Oil spokesperson.
"As a company we are greatly saddened by this incident and we express our greatest sympathies with the family and the co-workers of our colleague."
Nanticoke refinery produces about 25 per cent of the petroleum products sold in Ontario.
"We have notified the appropriate authorities and are working with them to investigate the cause of the incident," said Kelly.
"At this time, the investigation is underway and once that process is complete we will be in a better position to determine what, if any, additional information can be released."
The refinery produces more than 110,000 barrels of crude oil per day and supplies the Quebec, Ontario and U.S. markets with a variety of essential products including gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel, asphalt, heavy fuel oil and home heating fuel.
Follow Richard Gilbert on Twitter @buildingcanada.
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