Worker Injured In Propane Explosion
Posted July 13, 2010 2:36 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A construction worker was injured Tuesday morning when a propane tank on the roof of a North York office building exploded.
Just after 10am, one of two tanks blew up on top of the six-storey Royal Bank of Canada building near Don Mills Rd. and Lawrence Ave., prompting emergency crews to evacuate everyone inside.
“We were on the fifth floor,” said customer support manager Renee Dematteo.
“We heard several thumps and bams from what we assumed was workers – and it’s normal. We ignored it. But then we started smelling the chemicals and we actually saw a bit of haze of smoke and were milling around when the fire alarms went off and everyone got evacuated down the stairs.”
A man, believed to be in his 20s, was working on the roof at the time and was knocked to the ground. He suffered serious burns and was bleeding from the arm. But he was conscious and breathing when he was transported to Sunnybrook hospital for treatment.
Witnesses said the construction has been going on for about a year.
Police and the Ministry of Labour are investigating.
