Broken scaffolding from which four workmen plunged to their deaths will likely remain anchored to a Rexdale highrise until later this week, a labour ministry spokesman said yesterday.

Tom Zach said an engineer was called in Christmas Eve, along with ministry investigators to study the damaged scaffolding and determine what happened, if it was properly tied, and to recommend its safe removal.

"The investigation of something of this magnitude will be going on for awhile," he said.

Four contractors repairing balconies on the 13th floor of a privately owned highrise at 2757 Kipling Ave. fell 40 metres to their deaths after the scaffolding snapped in half around 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 24.

A fifth man, who held on a few seconds before falling, underwent surgery and remains in Sunnybrook hospital in critical condition.

There have been reports of another man left dangling in one of two safety harnesses used by the crew but Zach said he couldn't comment until the investigation concludes.

Vladimir Korostin, 40, a refugee claimant and married father of two from Israel, and Aleksey Blumberg, 32, a refugee claimant from Ukraine, who was married for two months, were among those killed.

Expressing condolences to the men's families, Zach said the tragedy has also been tough on the investigators.

"There are a number of speculations of how the swing stage was tied," he said.

Due to safety concerns about the scaffolding, which had to be first secured to the building, two of the bodies were only removed Christmas Day. Interviews with witnesses and residents continue.

Source: Toronto Sun

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