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Tragic Death of Worker on Trans Mountain Pipeline Workers' Control Over Matters of Health and Safety Is EssentialSamatar Sahal, a 40-year-old pipeline construction worker with SA Energy, was killed during construction of the Trans Mountain Pipeline at a west Edmonton worksite on October 27. He was pinned and crushed by a large, heavy trench box cross-member as it was being disassembled, and died at the scene. Workers' Forum expresses sincere condolences to Mr. Sahal's family, friends and co-workers. He is remembered as a highly skilled worker, a humble man and devoted husband and father of four children. Following Mr. Sahal's death, the Canadian Energy Regulator (CER) directed Trans Mountain to "ensure that the contracting company, SA Energy Group, immediately cease use and operation of trench boxes until it can demonstrate that they can be used, assembled and disassembled safely. Furthermore, Trans Mountain shall undertake a root cause analysis of the fatality and identify and implement corrective and preventive actions." The order also required Trans Mountain to confirm it has a process to train workers in the safe use of trench boxes along the entire length of the project, and confirm it has the inspectors and oversight capability to adequately oversee high-risk project activities for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX), and to address any identified gaps. Alberta Occupational Health and Safety is conducting an investigation, while the CER shares responsibility for overseeing safety measures for the TMX. The CER directive raises many questions, never mind that the federal government is speaking to itself, since it owns 100 per cent of the TMX. Why does it take the death of a worker for the CER to even ask if proper safety precautions and training are in place? How does it justify issuing permits for construction and only now asking such questions? Why are pipeline workers on other sites treated as bystanders and not active participants in the investigation and information blackouts imposed? When a fatality occurs at a construction worksite, work stops, and Occupational Health and Safety imposes a blackout on information related to the incident. Years may go by before a report is published, so workers are also deprived of information which could be invaluable in making their own workplace safer. Workers have no opportunity to contribute our vast collective knowledge, including experience of previous accidents and "near misses," to the investigation. No one asks for our input on the causes and possible measures to prevent such tragedies. We are the ones with boots on the ground, literally. We spend our lives on job sites and our input is crucial if we are to deal effectively with workplace safety. Construction is a hazardous occupation, and pipeline construction particularly so. Workers have to deal with narrow rights-of-way, cramped spaces, many vehicles, very heavy equipment and huge joints of pipe. Crews are expected to cover a certain distance every day, so we are often on the move. We have to deal with changing weather and climate conditions, different terrain every day, and frequent personnel changes. As a result, the potential for injuries and fatalities is very high. As things stand, employers are permitted to use unsafe practices until the rate of death and injuries forces them to make changes. This has to end. It is unacceptable that it is only after the death of a worker, and sometimes many deaths, that practices are deemed unsafe or even that serious investigation takes place. Contractors keep repeating that employees are their number one concern, but really they consider us expendable. Someone is killed? Tragic! But we'll find a replacement. Workers continue to be injured, crippled, maimed and killed and we are forever reacting to accidents and incidents. Through our collective efforts we have ended many dangerous work methods and procedures, but the profit motive and lack of control by the workers remains and creates havoc. Bill 47 would make the situation even worse. It is unacceptable. We must exercise much more control over these conditions of work that have such a profound effect on our lives. Training of all involved is absolutely crucial. Workers may, in certain circumstances, determine that certain projects cannot be performed without loss of human lives and as such must be modified, or even abandoned, until such time as they can be done safely. Control over matters of health and safety is a vital part of establishing a new direction for the economy.
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