Stop-work order issued for equipment involved in the incident
One worker died in a workplace accident at the Michelin tire plant in Waterville, N.S. on Wednesday, the provincial Department of Labour announced on Sunday.
The department has issued a stop-work order for the equipment involved. The equipment will also remain in place as the investigation continues, reports CBC.
“As this is an active investigation, we cannot confirm details regarding the incident,” the department said.
Meanwhile, Andrew Mutch, president of Michelin North America (Canada) Inc., expressed his sympathies to the victim’s family and to employees at the Waterville plant.
“The safety of our employees is our number one priority, and we are working to understand the circumstances around this event,” said Mutch in an e-mail to The Canadian Press.
In April, CBC reported that Michelin is set to start construction in late spring or early summer on an expansion of its Bridgewater, N.S., plant.
"An addition to our Bridgewater plant will allow for the installation of new equipment used in the tire building process, ensuring we are well-positioned to meet future market needs," Michelin spokesperson Nicolle Vuotto said in a previous statement. The tire producer also operates in Granton, N.S.
In 2019, Michelin launched its Why I Work Safely poster campaign in a bid to engage its 705 employees in safety. “[Companies] can improve safety for all employees by providing staff with refresher training and resources – especially managers,” Jan Mirkowski, international health and safety consultant at Arinite said in a previous report.
COS will update this story as it develops.
