Young Worker Killed Lacked Training

According to Quebec's workers' compensation board, the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CSST), gaps in training and a deficient occupational health and safety program was the main cause of an accident last year near James Bay that claimed the life of one young worker and seriously injured another.
The CSST report charged the employer, Fernand Gilbert ltée, with failing to protect the health and safety of its workers, in an incident that took place on January 11, 2008, while working on part of the $2 billion Rupert River diversion project. The two workers were replacing a rear wheel on a 50-ton dump truck in the company's service area. They placed the wheel on its axle and partially filled the tire, then proceeded to fasten it with screws. Suddenly, the tire exploded, sending both workers flying. As a result, David Girard, 22, sustained fatal injuries to his head, while the other worker was seriously injured.
The CSST investigation found that even though replacing a truck tire requires high-level technical knowledge, the two workers had received very little training on the proper procedures, and had never received written instructions at any point. The workers were completely unaware of the dangers of inflating a tire that is less than 80 per cent full without first removing the wheel and inspecting it thoroughly.
The investigation also found that the employer was aware of the risks involved in replacing truck tires; its own safety program specified that a safety cage be used when replacing tires, although no cage was available on site. Fernand Gilbert has 30 days to contest the charges, after which a judge will decide on a fine between $5,000 and $20,000.
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Shudecki is content writer for the groundforcetraining; Visit the site (http://www.groundforcetraining.com) for more information about Heavy Equipment Safety Training.