Joint inquest will examine seven separate deaths at construction sites
The Ministry of the Solicitor General has announced the date for a joint inquest into the tragic deaths of seven workers who lost their lives due to falls from heights while working at various construction sites. The inquest will investigate the circumstances surrounding these incidents and consider recommendations to prevent similar fatalities in the future.
The seven victims, identified as Melvin Joyner, Paul Rouen, Bernard Lauzon, Daniel Burkholder, Mykhailo Kouchil, Ronald Guilbeault, and Kung So, passed away in separate incidents over a span of two years between January 2018 and November 2019. Each of these individuals succumbed to injuries sustained during falls from elevated workspaces within the construction industry.
In accordance with the Coroners Act, a mandatory inquest has been deemed necessary to delve into the circumstances surrounding their fatalities.
The joint inquest, expected to span eight days, is set to commence on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. It will be presided over by Dr. Geoffrey Bond, with Alessandra Hollands and Kristin Smith serving as inquest counsel. Due to the ongoing pandemic and health safety considerations, the proceedings will be conducted via video conference.
During the inquest, approximately six witnesses are anticipated to provide testimony and evidence related to the circumstances surrounding these incidents.
The jury will have the important task of examining the details of each case and may issue recommendations aimed at preventing similar accidents and fatalities in the construction industry.
Members of the public interested in following the proceedings can watch them live via the following link: Inquest Live Stream.
This joint inquest serves as a critical step in understanding the circumstances that led to these tragic deaths and aims to improve safety measures within the construction industry to protect the lives of workers in the future.
