Excerpt from ptboscannerfeeds.ca
Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are assisting with a death investigation at a worksite in the Township of Minden Hills.
On January 26, 2022, at approximately 11:30 a.m., the Haliburton Highlands OPP was contacted by Haliburton County Paramedic Services (EMS) for a worker who had fallen from a telecommunications tower on Davis Lake Road in the Township of Minden Hills.
Initial investigation indicated that workers were onsite working on a tower this morning when one of the workers fell a reported 400 feet and was subsequently pronounced deceased at the scene.
The deceased has been identified as 30-year-old Jacob LUNDRIGAN of Tilbury.
Both the federal and provincial Ministry of Labour (MOL) have been notified and are investigating. The Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario, OPP Forensic Identification Unit (FIS) and the Haliburton Highlands OPP Crime Unit are assisting with the investigation.
My opinion
Not many people know that the telecommunications industry fall under federal law and not provincial.
One this people must know that, in Ontario, all construction workers KNOW that they need to receive ‘Working at Heights’ training but it is not mandatory on federally-regulated worksites.
There are many questions that should be asked here:
- What was the degree of training for this employee?
- Where was his supervisor?
- Is this the first time the employee failed to tie off?
- Was the harness, cable grab, or any other component defective and missed through inspection?
- Does the company complete, through ‘Due Diligence’, and layered-audit on all fall protection equipment? and
- Is there a company rule concerning the tie-off process and is it strictly enforced?
All good questions but, at the end of the day, an employee was placed at risk and he/she dies.
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs. Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259 We can also be reached at
Ensure your workplace is a safe place.
Remember – In Ontario, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
CEO & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks.