The lack of training and supervision played a major role in the death of a worker at Quincaillerie Richelieu on January 5 in the Saint-Laurent neighborhood of Montreal, concluded an investigation by the Standards Commission, the Justice, Health and Safety at Work (CNESST).
On the day of the accident, the worker was busy preparing an order in a warehouse. He then used a tow truck and a trailer to retrieve the goods stored on the second level of a pallet rack. To do this, the worker stood with one foot on the bottom step of the tow truck ladder and the other foot on top of the trailer. He fell about 5 feet backwards and hit his head on the ground.
Emergency services were called to the scene, but the worker refused to be taken to the hospital. The next day he was found dead in his apartment.
“There was a lack of worker practice, training and supervision regarding the use of the tractor forklift and its trailer to reach the goods stored on the second level of the pallet rack,” CNESST said in a press release.
After the accident, the CNESST prohibited the employer from using the method of picking, which consists of standing on the trailer of the towing vehicle.
In addition, CNESST urged employers to train and educate their workers on the safe use of devices within the company. The employer had to use the methods and techniques to identify, control and eliminate the risk of a worker falling when using this equipment in a situation similar to that of the victim.
The employer has complied with these requirements.