Occupational Health and Safety investigating 4 deaths in last week

Four people have died in workplace accidents across Alberta in the past seven days, a number Minister of Labour Ric McIver says is “too many.”

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) officers are investigating the four incidents.

“Every time somebody is injured or killed on the job, it’s one too many,” McIver said. “It adds more pressure [on the government], as it should, because every life is important. Every Alberta worker is important and we want every one of them to get home safe after every shift.”

The most recent death occurred on Tuesday when a man was crushed to death while removing a temporary bridge southeast of Calgary. The man died south of Highway 901 near Carseland.

On Friday, a 42-year-old man was working at the top of a ladder on Bellerose Drive in St. Albert when he fell about five metres. He was taken to hospital where he later died.

The day earlier, a 60-year-old man was crushed to death at a northeast Calgary industrial strip mall when a concrete brick wall collapsed on top of him.

CBC News has confirmed the 60-year-old man who was killed by the bricks was sent by Blue Collar Temps to work for the Norcal Group. Marco Civitarese, the City of Calgary's chief building inspector, says the company was operating without a work permit and has been issued a stop work order by the city for any future construction.

Last Tuesday Edmonton's James Ladino died at a worksite in the Calgary neighbourhood of Cranston when he was struck in the head with a piece of machinery. CBC News learned the company that employed the 40-year-old had a history with OHS.

McIver said the government is training occupational health and safety workers to become peace officers so they can lay charges and enforce workplace regulations more effectively.

“We’re making progress, but until the number is zero we’re not as good as we want to be,” McIver said.