Despite fine on employer, ‘nothing came to me for pain and suffering,’ says worker
More than 18 months after a workplace accident left him with life-altering injuries, Jason Gibson remains in intensive treatment at a mental health facility in Guelph, unable to work and unlikely ever to return to his 30-year career in the industrial trades.
Gibson, 47, a union painter with Painters' Union Local 1590, suffers from traumatic brain injury, permanent musculoskeletal damage, and post-traumatic stress disorder following a May 7, 2024 incident at NOVA Chemicals' Corunna facility, according to a report from The Sarnia Journal. His family doctor has indicated he will probably never work again, according to the report.
Employed by contractor Kel-Gor Limited, Gibson was working under a safe work permit performing maintenance on piping connected to the plant's boiler feed system. The work involved an intermittent blowdown procedure—a routine maintenance task where valves are opened to remove water and prevent scale buildup and corrosion.
While the worker remained positioned on elevated scaffolding, a NOVA Chemicals employee manually opened a valve connected to the boiler feed pipe, releasing superheated water and steam.
Gibson, a father of three, can no longer engage in physical activities with his children. While in treatment in Guelph, he missed his youngest son's ninth birthday, according to the report. He must continue paying union dues for life to maintain pension eligibility despite being unable to return to work.
"That moment has never really ended," he said, talking about the incident, according to The Sarnia Journal’s report. "I think about it a lot."
The incident reveals critical vulnerabilities in simultaneous operations management and energy isolation procedures, indicating gaps in permit-to-work systems and hazard communication protocols between host employers and contractors.
Guilty plea and fine
In December 2025, NOVA Chemicals pleaded guilty to failing to provide information, instruction, and supervision necessary to protect a worker from workplace hazards under Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act. The company was fined $130,000 plus a 25 per cent victim fine surcharge—funds that were directed to the province, not to Gibson.
"They pleaded guilty and paid a fine," Gibson told The Sarnia Journal. "But nothing came to me for pain and suffering."
Under Ontario's workplace injury system, workers cannot sue employers for pain and suffering. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board assessed Gibson for Non-Economic Loss related to permanent impairment in his left hip, permanent lower back damage, and permanent whole person impairment. The assessment determined a one-time payment of $641.19. Gibson appealed on Dec. 16, 2025, but was denied additional compensation on Feb. 2, 2026, according to documents provided to The Sarnia Journal.
Physical and psychological trauma
Gibson was admitted to Homewood Health Centre in Guelph in December 2025 for intensive mental health treatment and physiotherapy funded by WSIB and the Ontario Health Insurance Plan. Recovery has been minimal. "The doctor here said I haven't made any improvements," he said in an interview with The Sarnia Journal.
He experiences daily headaches, frequent dizziness, and short-term memory loss from the traumatic brain injury. Medical assessments revealed permanent nerve damage and muscle damage to his lower back and hip. After more than a year of physiotherapy, doctors told him the damage would not improve. "They said my damaged muscles will never get better," Gibson said.
Gibson was diagnosed with PTSD months after the accident. Daily activities trigger severe anxiety tied to the scalding water incident. "I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack every time I take a shower," he told The Sarnia Journal.
He experiences persistent sleep disruption and recurring nightmares despite medication. "This plays in my head daily," he said. "I get nightmares about dying in my accident."
Corporate response
Joe Wolf, vice president of manufacturing east at NOVA Chemicals, said in a statement to The Sarnia Journal that the company:
- implemented facility modifications
- improved physical safeguards
- reviewed maintenance procedures
- and enhanced training protocols following the incident.
"Our teams acted quickly to assess what happened, understand contributing factors, and identify opportunities to strengthen our practices," Wolf said, according to the report.
Meanwhile, Caroline McKenzie, general manager at Kel-Gor Limited, said that the company "remains deeply committed to supporting Jason and his family as he continues his recovery" and has collaborated with NOVA Chemicals to review procedures and onsite controls.
However, Gibson said he has never received direct contact from NOVA Chemicals offering support beyond the legal proceedings, reported The Sarnia Journal. The company's statement to the publication marked the first time he had seen the incident publicly addressed in relation to him outside the courtroom, according to the report.
