A worker was taken to hospital Friday after falling into a hole at the construction site of the future Parliament Oak hotel.
Niagara-on-the-Lake Fire & Emergency Services responded at 11 a.m. to what was initialy reported as a medical call involving a 55-year-old man at 325 King St.
Due to the “nature and complexity” of the situation, the call was upgraded to a “confined space rescue,” prompting Niagara Falls Fire Department to send specialized personnel and equipment to assist, communications for NOTL said.
The worker was inside an excavation area at the construction site.
Town officials said Niagara EMS paramedics were already treating the man when firefighters arrived on scene.
Once crews safely reached the man, firefighters secured him in a rescue basket and carried him out of the hole using vehicle access pathways at the site, the town said.
The worker was then transferred back into EMS care and transported by ambulance to hospital for further assessment and treatment.
Niagara Regional Police classified the incident as a workplace rescue call and said it doesn’t suspect any criminal activity took place.
Officials did not explain why or how the fall took place.
Witness Yvonne Bredow said she watched the emergency response unfold for roughly 45 minutes.
“I heard firemen say, ‘We need to build a ramp to get him out,’” she told The Lake Report.
Town chief administrative officer Nick Ruller said questions around fall restraints and worker safety requirements would fall outside the fire department’s scope and would instead fall to those in charge of the construction site.
“There obviously are requirements within the industry, depending on the type of work that’s being performed,” he said. “It’s kind of outside our scope as to what their requirements are for fall restraints.”
Minor said no road closures were required during the response.
By early afternoon, emergency crews had cleared the scene and construction activity appeared to resume at the site.
Town officials said any further questions related to the worker’s condition or the investigation would need to be directed to police or Niagara EMS.
Beyond confirming the nature of the incident, police declined further comment and referred questions back to the town. Niagara EMS had not responded to requests for comment by publication time.
