A coroner’s inquest into the death of Louis Gagnon has concluded, with the jury classifying his death as accidental.
According to a news release from the New Brunswick government, Gagnon died on Jan. 27, 2020, due to injuries sustained while working at the Belledune Generating Station.
The inquest, a formal court proceeding that does not assign blame, was held from Feb. 20 to 22 at the Campbellton courthouse. The five-member jury heard from 14 witnesses.
The jury made several recommendations for high-risk industries to prevent similar deaths:
- Before any project begins, appoint competent persons to inspect the anchors and support equipment using appropriate tools.
- Announce anyone’s entry into a confined space to inform those present and add the person to the attendance register.
- Ensure employers and employees have necessary materials to perform tasks safely.
- Clearly mark the line of fire with red tape, including a label with the reason for the tape and the name of the person who placed it.
- Visually indicate the line of fire during tailgate meetings and hold a meeting to identify a new line-of-fire zone if it changes.
- Maintain direct and regular verbal communication among all project personnel and use radio communication if necessary.
For WorkSafeNB and high-risk industries, additional recommendations include:
- Ensure anyone working on rigging systems is trained by a certified person in all relevant equipment and materials, keeping this training up to date.
Deputy chief coroner Emily Caissie, who presided over the inquest, made further recommendations:
- NB Power should require a pull plan for any project involving mechanical pulling, completed by engineers. This plan should include:
- Theoretical calculations and physical verification of the applied tension on anchor points.
- Specifications for materials/equipment to be used.
- Detailed instructions on installing the materials/equipment with visual aids.
- A pull step checklist.
- Inspection protocols following installation before starting the work.
- A formal process for any deviations from the original plan.
“The chief coroner will forward these recommendations to the appropriate agencies for consideration and response,” the release states.