WCB Releases Recommendations Concerning Fatal Workplace Accident - January 2003

The Workers Compensation Board (WCB) has released recommendations concerning its investigation in to the recent workplace fatality of a truck driver working for A.J.L. Limited at the Summerside lagoon construction project managed by Curran and Briggs. WCB investigates workplace accidents and fatalities to help employers and workers understand the causes of these accidents, and to assist them in avoiding future accidents.

George Stewart, Director of Occupational Health and Safety for the Workers Compensation Board, commented that “on Friday, October 18, 2002 at approximately 11:00a.m., the driver was dumping a load of sandstone over an embankment (berm) located at the Summerside Lagoon. The driver had begun to raise the trailer to dump the load of sandstone when the trailer end dump unit lost stability and fell over onto the cab resulting in fatal injuries.”

Stewart explained that as a result of WCB’s workplace accident investigation three key recommendations have been developed to help prevent other similar accidents from occurring within Island workplaces:

1. WCB will develop and distribute an industry hazard alert on the hazards associated with dumping from semi trailer end dump units.
2. WCB will contact provincial truck driving training schools to ensure they are made aware of the hazards related to semi trailer end dump units and encourage training institutions to include hazard training in their curriculum.
3. WCB will contact industry associations and request their assistance in developing a safe work procedure for dumping with semi trailer end dump units.

Representatives of both A.J.L. Limited and Curran and Briggs Construction have also stated that they will begin working with WCB on the workplace accident investigation’s recommendations. Both companies are committed to improving their safety practices.

For more information contact Mark Barrett:

Tel: (902) 894-0362
Email: mabarrett@wcb.pe.ca