Quebec workers’ safety board issues report after death of worker in Montreal North

After a worker fell down a staircase and later died in the hospital, CNESST investigated and found that there was no safe way to descend from a mezzanine where he was working. (Groupe CNW/Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail) (Hand-out/Commission des normes, de l'équi)

The CNESST released its findings on Wednesday in relation to an accident that took the life of a worker at Les Industries Carmel in Montreal North on Sept. 9.

The worker was on a mezzanine installing a new water line when he attempted to climb down from the mezzanine.

“To do so, he positioned himself with his back to the void to reach the staircase. He placed his left hand on the door molding and his right hand on a horizontal ceiling beam. He then stepped over the ledge and placed his left foot on the door threshold. At that moment, the door molding gave way, causing him to lose his balance and fall down the stairs and then to the floor,” CNESST says.

The worker was taken to the hospital, where he remained for nine days before he succumbed to his injuries on Sept. 18.

CNESST said the door molding gave way under his weight and that there was an “absence of safe means of access to the mezzanine,” which forced the worker to “improvise a method that exposed him to fall” when exiting.

Les Industries Carmel was prohibited from allowing workers to access the mezzanine after CNESST investigated, and the employer is required to “develop methods and techniques to identify, control, and eliminate risks that could impact worker health and safety. The employer complied with these directives.”

CNESST recommends employers do the following to prevent similar accidents:

• Assess risks before work begins and identify necessary equipment to safely access elevated areas;
• Use collective protective equipment, such as guardrails, or personal protective equipment (example: safety harness) to prevent falls;
• Train and inform workers on safe work practices and ensure proper supervision.

CNESST will share its report with various construction associations in Quebec.