AIM Hearing in Saint John Workplace Fatality Scheduled for Next Week

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Another pre-trial conference has been ordered for American Iron & Metal as the company faces charges related to a 2022 fatal workplace incident in Saint John.

AIM is due for trial in March on four charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act relating to the death of subcontractor Darrell Richards, 60, of Saint John on July 1, 2022, following injuries suffered at the company's west Saint John scrapyard.

The charges include failing to provide information on the hazards of a calender roll, failing to acquaint any employee with any hazard involving the handling and disposal of equipment, including a calender roll, failing to provide information necessary to ensure an employee’s health and safety, and failing to ensure that work is competently supervised. A calender machine uses a series of heated rolls to manufacture sheets of material, usually textile, paper or plastics.

In court Friday, Crown prosecutor Wes McIntosh said discussions are continuing with the defence and asked for the case to be adjourned to next Friday, along with an unrelated charge relating to an incident on Dec. 3, 2021, in Maces Bay. In that case, it's alleged that the boom of a truck picking up material at the Point Lepreau nuclear plant came in contact with a power line, with no injuries.

In November, a trial for the Maces Bay charge was also rescheduled to March, with McIntosh saying the cases should be handled together in case the charges are resolved.

AIM Recycling's vice-president east Michael Cormier attended in person, as did WorkSafe NB investigations manager Michel Cyr and more than 20 others who filed out of the courtroom after the matter concluded.

The case is scheduled to return on Feb. 9.

Courtesy: www.saltwire.com