Worker injured when wall collapses at construction site

A worker was injured when a shoring wall at a central Ottawa construction site partly collapsed on top of him Monday morning.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the site on Carling Avenue near the Westgate Shopping Centre just before 9 a.m.

"A worker was hand digging out a shoring wall that collapsed," said Nick DeFazio, Ottawa Fire Services' public information officer.

Some of the wood making up the wall collapsed.

Because the construction pit is about 12 to 15 metres below ground, DeFazio said the rope rescue team was on standby, but firefighters were able to walk down to the worker safely.

Firefighters and paramedics assessed the man and carried him out using a basket.

The man was taken to hospital in serious, stable condition, according to paramedic spokesperson Marc-Antoine Deschamps.

Ontario's Ministry of Labour is notified whenever there is an injury or death of a worker on the job, or for some types of incident at a construction site.

The ministry said it has assigned an inspector to Monday's incident.