Death of mill worker Bill Russell is accidental, finds jury
Mill worker William “Bill” Russell’s death was an accident, but a coroner’s inquest recommended ways to improve the safety of workers around equipment.
While the jury found that the death was an accident, the coroner’s inquest recommended clearer guidelines around the training employees require when operating equipment, according to CBC.
The coroner also recommended that employers should be provided with templates for filling out inspections on equipment, and for industry in the province to lean on other jurisdictions to develop and implement safety management systems in a clear, specific way.
Russell died on Feb. 11, 2021, days after he got in an accident while working at a woodland operation in New Brunswick.
Testimony during the inquest revealed that the incident happened in a newly constructed extension of Marwood's wood treatment plant, where Russell was helping move large totes containing chemicals used in the treatment process.
On the day of the incident, Russell used a forklift to load a tote onto the roll case, and then attempted to help his supervisor move the tote along the roll case.
According to Mike Hall, the supervisor, one of the rollers wasn't working to move the tote, and so Russell got out of the forklift to try to help move it along.
Hall, however, claimed he didn't realize at the time that Russell had gotten behind the tote and was pushing it forward while standing in the deck of the roll case.
When the tote fell back, it crushed Russell against the rollers.
This resulted in an injury to the torso, a ruptured liver, collapsed lung and eventual kidney failure, doctors who treated Russell testified, according to the CBC report.
Faulty roll case design
The inquest also heard that there was an error in the design of the roll case used in the incident.
While each roller in the roll case was supposed to be spaced in 18-inch intervals, two of the rollers were separated by a 22¼-inch gap.
“That gap is where one edge of the tote tilted off a roller, and fell onto Russell,” read part of the report.
The inquest also found that there was no standard operating procedure posted in the workplace that detailed how employees should use the roll case. The employer also failed to conduct an inspection of the roll case to ensure it functioned properly after it was installed.
Also, two Marwood employees testified they simply thought of the roll case as a "shelf," when answering questions about why certain procedures weren't followed upon its installation, according to the report.
"We need to make sure that this never happens to anybody else again. Just because something is labelled as a 'shelf' doesn't mean there's not an inherent danger or risk to using that material or equipment," said Russell's widow, Lee Russell, in the CBC article.
"Any equipment with a moving piece has the potential to harm someone if not used in the proper way," Russell said, adding she hopes to see companies respond by ensuring that proper training is in place for employees.
Previously, WorkSafeNB recommended the charge be laid against Marwood under the Occupational Health and Safety Act following an investigation. In December 2021, the company was ordered to pay a fine of $85,000 plus a victim surcharge of $17,000, according to the report.
