Some workers walk off job after COVID-19 outbreak at Michael Garron Hospital construction site
Posted December 10, 2020 3:32 pm.
Last Updated December 10, 2020 6:23 pm.
Some workers at a construction site at Michael Garron Hospital in the city’s east end began walking off the job on Thursday, claiming unsafe conditions in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak.
CityNews has learned that 15 workers at the site have tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement, EllisDon, the company running the project, said “there’s no intention of halting operations unless instructed otherwise,” adding that it is providing an “essential service.”
Workers have walked off the job after a #covid19 outbreak at a construction site at Michael Garron Hospital. There are 15 positive cases, but the site won’t be shut down.
EllisDon: “as an essential service there’s no intention of halting operations unless instructed otherwise.” pic.twitter.com/Sg0nR0Ytub
— Tina Yazdani (@TinaYazdani) December 10, 2020
“We are aware that some sub-trade workers have left the site at their own discretion,” EllisDon said in a statement. “To that point, with regards to the positive cases at the site, we have been in close contact with both the Ministry of Labour and Toronto Public Health and they are satisfied with the safety measures EllisDon has in place.”
Some workers at the site paint a different picture, with one telling CityNews Thursday: “Just to put things in perspective, there are nine flushable toilets on site, the rest are portable and all of them are disgusting. There must be at least 200 workers on site. There is no hot water to properly wash hands.”
EllisDon maintains that it is implementing and enforcing “the strictest regiment of precautionary measures,” including pre-site admittance screening, enhanced hygiene measures, mandatory masks at all times and an increased number of sanitizing stations.
“The safety and well-being of everyone at this jobsite and the community is highest priority and a matter which we take very seriously. We will continue to look to our health authorities for guidance on enhanced measures as they become available,” the company said.
