Inquest jury issues four recommendations in death of Pro Caissons worker

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OWEN SOUND, ON

Following two days of evidence under the direction of Dr. Rick Mann, a five-person coroner’s jury into the death of Glen Barnes issued four recommendations last week.

All four recommendations are for stronger, more detailed protection for workers. The recommendations closely follow suggestions made by labour ministry soil engineering consultant Nita Elgohary, who testified at the inquest.

Barnes, 40, was directing drilling caissons for foundation pillars as part of an addition to Owen Sound’s water purification plant on Nov. 15, 2005, when he was swallowed up suddenly by the soil.

Jurors recommended the ministry issue written notice to the construction industry regarding the unforeseen hazards identified in the fatal accident.

The notice should refer to options when working in poor soil, including full support for caisson walls from the top to the bottom of the excavation, advice from engineers in changing soil conditions and awareness of the potential effect on soil stability of machinery vibration during construction.

Jurors also recommended that notice to the industry highlight the use of safety harnesses for workers and the importance of planning for deep foundation drilling work. Jurors also recommended labour ministry officials and industry representatives develop designs for a protective platform to support workers near caisson holes.

The jury also recommended standards for bore holes in soil surveys done for construction projects.

Mann told jurors in his closing remarks he would forward their recommendations to Ontario Chief Coroner Dr. Bonita Porter. Coroner’s officials then forward the recommendations for action, he said.

“I think the recommendations are reasonable,” coroner’s counsel Chander Chaddah said in an interview afterward. “I think that they’re practical in nature and something that can be addressed and hopefully we can see the effect of some of these recommendations for the protection of caisson workers.”

Throughout the inquest, Mann kept a framed, colour portrait of Barnes, who was married with two children, facing the audience on a corner of his desk.

In September, Pro Caissons and its general supervisor, Aidan MacIsaac, each pleaded guilty to one workplace safety charge in relation to Barnes’s death. Pro Caissons, of Bolton, Ont., was fined $35,000, while MacIsaac was fined $2,500 for failing to ensure workers wore safety harnesses.

Canadian Press