Harrowing videos show worker dangling from crane at Toronto construction site

Ontario's labour ministry is investigating after distressing videos were shared online showing a construction worker dangling high in the air from a crane load in downtown Toronto.

One 54-second snippet of video, apparently recorded from the point-of-view of another worker, was posted to Reddit on Wednesday morning.

A witness standing off-camera can be heard saying: "Oh my God, how the f--k did this happen?" 

Videos of the same occurrence recorded from different angles were also being shared on other social media channels.

Warning: Video includes strong language

In a statement, a spokesperson for the construction company in charge of the project confirmed that an "incident took place" at the site on Tuesday. The worker's hand was "entangled with a tagline after hooking a load."

"Fortunately, he was safely lowered to the work surface and not seriously injured," PCL Constructors Canada Inc. said in the statement.

 The worker in the video is employed by Modern Niagara as a rigger, responsible for ensuring loads of materials are securely fastened before being hoisted by crane operators, PCL said. The development site is located at the corner of Front Street West and Simcoe Street in the downtown core of the city. Modern Niagara is a contractor.

Toronto police, firefighters and paramedics all told CBC News they received no calls related to the incident.

Ontario's Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development confirmed it was notified about the incident on Tuesday and that it sent an investigator to the site on Wednesday.

"It was reported that a worker became entangled with a tag line from a crane after hooking a load, was hoisted off the podium level and sustained injuries," the ministry said in an email.

PCL said it is "working with all appropriate authorities" and that an investigation is ongoing.

The construction site is the same one where a crane collapsed into an adjacent building in July of 2020.