One worker crushed, another sustains multiple blunt injuries
A New Brunswick coroner’s inquest has recommended tighter controls around heavy equipment, mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) and enhanced on‑site supervision following two workplace deaths on provincial job sites in 2024.
A five‑person jury sitting in Campbellton examined the deaths of Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI) employee Jean‑Eudes Doiron and contractor worker Marcel Gagnon. The jury heard testimony from 16 witnesses before releasing its findings and recommendations, according to a CTV News report.
Gagnon, who worked for a company under contract to DTI, died in hospital on 23 July 2024 after an incident at a quarry near Saint‑Joseph‑de‑Madawaska. The province said he died from trauma after being crushed and that his death was deemed accidental.
Doiron, an employee of DTI, died on Oct. 10, 2024 at a work site in the Rang‑St‑Georges district of Hautes‑Terres. The inquest found he died from multiple blunt injuries, and his death was also classified as an accident, according to the report.
The recommendations from the inquest were directed to DTI, contractor Conrad Lavoie et Fils and provincial regulator WorkSafeNB. They focus on reversing operations, communication on shared work sites, supervision and controls on distraction, CTV News noted.
Measures for DTI and contractor on heavy equipment and PPE
The jury recommended several measures for DTI and Conrad Lavoie et Fils to address risks associated with heavy trucks, blind spots and pedestrian exposure. It said a spotter should be posted whenever a truck with blind spots has to back up, to guide the driver and keep workers clear of the reversing path.
|
Category |
Recommendation |
|
Traffic control and blind spots |
Post a spotter whenever a truck with blind spots must back up. |
|
Traffic control and blind spots |
Prohibit workers from crossing behind a truck; they should always cross in front. |
|
Traffic control and blind spots |
Install backup cameras on trucks with blind spots. |
|
Safety briefings and communication |
Use morning safety briefings to identify tasks for the day. |
|
Safety briefings and communication |
Use morning safety briefings to highlight ecological or environmental hazards. |
|
Safety briefings and communication |
Use morning safety briefings to outline related safety risks. |
|
Safety briefings and communication |
Include subcontractors in morning safety briefings. |
|
Safety briefings and communication |
If a subcontractor cannot attend, meet with them separately so “on‑site communications are clear.” |
|
PPE enforcement |
Make personal protective equipment mandatory. |
|
PPE enforcement |
Monitor PPE use to ensure compliance. |
Additional requirements for DTI and WorkSafeNB
The inquest issued additional recommendations to DTI on task planning, new‑worker orientation and supervisory presence. The jury said DTI should assign clear tasks at the start of each shift and avoid changing those assignments during the day, to reduce confusion about worker locations and responsibilities around moving equipment.
|
Category |
Recommendation |
|
Task clarity and change control |
Assign clear tasks at the start of the shift. |
|
Task clarity and change control |
Avoid changing task assignments during the day. |
|
New‑worker orientation |
Provide structured safety education at hiring. |
|
New‑worker orientation |
Include demonstrations of common hazards in orientation. |
|
New‑worker orientation |
Review safety policies with new workers. |
|
New‑worker orientation |
Use photos and other visuals “to make the presentations more visual.” |
|
Supervisor presence and workload |
Increase the percentage of time project supervisors spend on site. |
|
Supervisor presence and workload |
Delegate non‑contractual duties so supervisors can be more present with their crews. |
|
Supervisor presence and workload |
Ensure supervisors actively monitor traffic management and worker positioning. |
|
Radios for workers in high‑risk zones |
Equip each worker who may need to be behind a heavy truck or other heavy equipment with a radio. |
|
Radios for workers in high‑risk zones |
Ensure workers positioned behind heavy equipment can communicate with drivers at all times. |
Meanwhile, WorkSafeNB received a specific recommendation on distraction risk.
|
Category |
Recommendation |
|
Distraction risk (cellphone use) |
Raise awareness of the need to limit cellphone use on work sites. |
