The death of a 62-year-old employee following a workplace accident at Capital Steel’s Edmonton location continues to be investigated by the occupational health and safety division of Alberta’s Ministry of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour.
An immediate stop-use order on the outdoor racking was issued to Capital Steel, in effect until the investigation is complete and the ministry is satisfied the racks are being used in a safe manner.
“Our job is to not only find out what happened here but obviously take whatever steps need to be taken to help ensure that it doesn’t happen, not only at this location, but at any other facility that operates in a similar fashion,” Barrie Harrison, spokesman for occupational health and safety, said.
Capital Steel had no comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
While there are a “number of industries that are more prone to work-related incidents than others,” the steel industry being one simply because of the type of work being conducted, Harrison pointed out reports of falling steel racks pinning workers are not common.
The man was manually loading steel roads onto an outdoor rack when the rack fell, pinning him at the hip. Although transported to the hospital, the worker died of his injuries the following morning.
