N.B. Power is facing five charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act following the death of power-line technician Colin Hume, who fell during post-storm restoration work in Curryville, New Brunswick, two years ago. Hume, 47, was fatally injured when a power pole broke while he and another employee worked in a wooded area. The second worker sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized.
The charges, filed after an 18-month investigation by WorkSafeNB, allege that N.B. Power failed to provide proper training and safety instructions for removing ice from power lines, did not implement sufficient precautions to ensure worker safety, lacked a written emergency transportation plan, and failed to equip the site with a first aid kit.
The utility has not entered a plea, and spokesperson Dominic Couture emphasized N.B. Power’s ongoing cooperation with the investigation. “This incident has left a profound impact on our organization, and our thoughts remain with all those grieving during this difficult time,” Couture said in a statement. While he underscored the company’s commitment to safety improvements, he declined to specify what changes, if any, have been made to procedures since the accident.
N.B. Power has refrained from further comments, citing ongoing legal proceedings. The case is scheduled to return to court at a later date.
Original article: Savannah Awde · CBC News · Posted: Nov 27, 2024 4:27 PM EST | Last Updated: November 27
Available at: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-worker-death-1.7394475
