Some workers were not protected by the Factory Act. Particularly neglected were construction workers and civic employees. In the 19th century, there was no uniform requirement for erecting and maintaining scaffolding. Scaffolding complaints were recorded in Guelph as early as 1876, but no Scaffolding Act was enacted until 1911/1912. Instances of scaffolding giving way are numerous. Below are listed several recorded such events.
1873 – Mr. Shaw, a mason, “pointing” stone at Raymond’s, jumped 18′ onto a safe plank when the scaffolding suddenly gave way.
1876 – Alex Ferguson escaped with his life after falling from a scaffold. He had to make a 10′ to 12′ leap to reach safety. He was, according to the Guelph Mercury, “laid up for many weeks.”
1884 – John McPherson was working at McCrea’s. The scaffold, 15′ above ground, broke into two. He fell to the ground and received three fractured ribs, a dislocated finger and what were termed “ugly scalp wounds.”
1885 – John Ditzenroth, stepped off his plank and fell 20′ to his death
1886 – John Kennedy, James Davidson and Dennis Kelleher fell off scaffolding when it broke
1896 – A riveter was working on Heffernan Street Bridge on a platform above the Speed River. The rope frayed and he “was treated to an impromptu cold bath”
These are a few known examples. Many more existed – some went unrecorded if the result was minor or no injury to those involved.
Changes in Legislation
Between 1902 and 1912, at least six accidents involved ladders or planks. During the same period, three concerned scaffolds. Three of these workers were killed. Two had fallen from a scaffold.
On October 11, 1906, Graham Duncan, Howard Clark and Morris Wheeler were roofing for D. Young, a contractor, when their scaffold broke. Morris Wheeler’s head was cut open, Howard Clark suffered from an injured spine and Graham Duncan was killed.
In 1907, John Stewart was decorating the ceiling of Church of Our Lady, when he fell 12 feet from his scaffold to his death. A benefit concert was held in December to raise money for his family.
Was it any wonder that unions wanted to see some sort of scaffolding legislation put into place? Nevertheless, despite the law passing in 1911, Guelph was still without a scaffold inspector in 1912. The Guelph Trades and Labour Council (GTLC), after a meeting held in May 1912, intended to ask that an inspector be provided.
Implementing the Scaffolding Act of 1911/1912
The request of the GTLC may have gone unnoticed except for two incidents in 1912 and 1913. On June 1912, Robert Little, an experienced bricklayer/stonemason, was working on the city jail. At age 45, he met his death when the scaffolding gave way.
The death sent a ripple through the community, but it was not until 1913, after an unnamed builder’s labourer fell to his death from faulty scaffold construction, did Guelph inspectors and builders seriously consider the safety of their employees.
