Faulty equipment, wrong turn behind fatal Hatley Township accident
On Tuesday, the Workplace Health and Safety Commission (CNESST) released the conclusions from its investigation into the workplace accident that killed Claude Dostie, a truck driver working for Dany Dejardin, on June 12, 2017 in the Township of Hatley.
Early in the morning of June 12, 2017, Dostie went to a quarry in Saint-françoisxavier-de-brompton to load bulk granulate into his employer's dump truck. He then returned to North Hatley. When he arrived at the intersection of University Rd in Hatley Township, Highway 108 was closed and a detour was indicated. Dostie, however, followed the directions for cars, rather than those for trucks.
While descending the slope on Ch. de l’auberge, the truck gained speed in an uncontrollable manner and the breaks were unable to slow the truck down. Dostie, finding that he was losing control of his vehicle, made the decision to jump out of the truck. He prepared his descent by opening the door and placing himself on the step. By the time the truck left the road and hit the ditch, the driver fell off the step and was thrown under the left rear wheels of the truck. Emergency services were called to the scene of the accident but Dostie’s death was recorded on the spot.
The causes of the accident
The CNESST has determined that two main factors explain the accident:
-The deficient condition of the truck‘s brakes reduced the control that the driver could exercise on a hill;
-Due to the road closure, the truck driver took a detour that was risky for heavy vehicles.
How to avoid such an accident
By law, the employer is required to take the necessary measures to protect the health and ensure the safety and physical integrity of their workers. It also has the obligation to ensure that the organization of work and the equipment, methods and techniques used to perform it are safe. In particular, he or she must ensure that safe vehicles are provided and that they are kept in good condition.
Both employer and workers must team up to identify hazards and put in place the means to eliminate or control them.
Follow-up
The CNESST will inform the Quebec Trucking Association, the National Association of Truckers Crafts Inc., the Association of Quebec Truck Drivers and the Regroupement des Entrepreneurs and Independent Truckers of Quebec to raise awareness among their members of the findings of its investigation.
The vehicle destroyed in the accident was the only one the employer owned and it subsequently ceased activities.
The complete CNESST Investigation Report can be found at http://www.centredoc.cnesst.gouv.qc.ca/pdf/enquete/ed0 04168.pdf