Occupational Health and Safety is investigating a workplace fatality in Leduc.
OHS said the incident happened at around 2 p.m. Monday at a four-storey apartment building undergoing renovations.
Leduc RCMP, fire services, EMS crews and STARS Air Ambulance were also called to the scene.
OHS said a 45-year-old man was working at the apartment building and died after falling from a fourth-floor balcony.
“After an RCMP investigation, it was determined there was nothing suspicious about the accident and the investigation has been handed over to Alberta’s Operational Health and Safety,” RCMP said in a news release Tuesday.
OHS officers have secured the scene and no work was being done on Tuesday while the investigation was underway. OHS released the site back to the property management firm responsible for the building Tuesday afternoon.
On Wednesday, OHS said it had issued two stop-work orders to Homefront Property Maintenance Ltd.
“The employer must stop all work above three metres until the employer can demonstrate workers will be protected when working at heights above three metres,” OHS spokesperson Trent Bancarz said.
“The employer must stop all work involving aerial work platforms until the employer can demonstrate that workers are using appropriate fall protection equipment while operating aerial work platforms,” the email from OHS continued.
The OHS orders will stay in place until they are complied with.
“On behalf of Leduc City Council and administration, I wish to express our deepest condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of the individual who lost his life yesterday in a workplace incident,” Leduc Mayor Bob Young said in a statement Tuesday.
“Tragic situations such as these are difficult for everyone involved. I would like to thank our Leduc emergency services personnel, the RCMP and STARS who responded to the scene, your efforts to assist this individual are greatly appreciated.”
Neither RCMP nor OHS said exactly where the incident happened. No other injuries were reported, RCMP said.
Kelson Group Property Management released a statement on Wednesday, confirming a worker from a contracted renovation company died while working on a Kelson-owned property in Leduc.
“The company is working to ensure residents of the building, the on-site building managers, and the team company-wide are supported and kept up-to-date with any information as it is provided,” the statement reads.
“We are unbelievably saddened by this event,” said Jason Fawcett, vice president of operations.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of the individual, our contractor for whom the individual was employed and their colleagues.
“All work has been halted as an investigation is undertaken by Alberta Occupational Health and Safety and we are doing all we can to provide any assistance asked of us.”
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