Labour ministry investigating storm-blown swing stage

"A ministry inspector has been assigned to investigate," said a Labour Ministry spokesperson

Published Sep 04, 2026  •  Last updated 54 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

A video shared widely online shows the two workers, secured inside a swing stage suspended from the top of a residential apartment building, scrambling for safety after the dangling work platform got caught in wind gusts from Wednesday's powerful storms. Photo by Screenshot /Facebook/Spotted Toronto

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Ontario’s labour ministry has opened an investigation into a scary situation involving a pair of workers stranded in a swing stage during this week’s violent thunderstorms.

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A video shared widely online shows the two workers, secured inside a swing stage suspended from the top of a residential apartment building, scrambling for safety after the dangling work platform got caught in wind gusts from Wednesday’s powerful storms, slamming them into the building’s balconies.

One worker is seen accepting help from occupants of a third-floor apartment, climbing from the swing stage onto the apartment’s balcony.

Intense rain, wind and thunder are heard pounding against the building in the background of the video clip.

The workers appear to have been painting exterior windows in the as-yet-unidentified apartment building, as many of the windows showed traces of painter’s masking tape.

With the help of two residents, one of the workers manages to temporarily secure the swing stage using their arms, keeping it from swinging further.

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After one of the workers climbs to safety, attention then turns to his co-worker, who likewise was able to scramble to the balcony.

Video taken later shows the battered swing stage blown around the building’s corner, dangling from its hoist and tieback lines.

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Labour Ministry investigating

In an emailed statement, a spokesperson with Ontario’s Ministry of Labour said they’ve seen the video and are looking into its circumstances.

“On September 3, 2026, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development was notified of an incident that occurred on September 2, 2026, in Toronto,” they told the Toronto Sun. 

“A ministry inspector has been assigned to investigate. As the investigation is ongoing, no further details are available at this time.”

Wednesday saw a powerful line of thunderstorms sweep through the city, flooding roads, toppling trees and power lines, and destroying property.

City Manager Paul Johnson said the hardest-hit parts of the city — a line southeast from Willowdale to Guildwood — saw upwards of 100 to 110 mm of rain.

“Just to put it into context, that’s what we’d declare as a 100-year storm,” he said during a press conference early Thursday morning.

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