Work suspended at NOVA's Alberta project after worker death

02-May-16

Work on a construction project in Joffre, Alta. has been stopped after a contract worker was killed while working on a crane, as per journalofcommerce.com. While working on a stationary crane at the construction site, a contractor came in contact with equipment, resulting in severe trauma. NOVA Chemicals Joffre Site emergency personnel responded to the incident and rescued the worker from the crane. Paramedics transported the worker to the Red Deer Regional Hospital where he died from his injuries. Bill Greene, senior vice-president for NOVA Chemicals, said in a written statement that at approximately 9 a.m., April 27, there was an industrial accident at the NOVA Chemicals PE1 Expansion Project construction site at the Joffre Site manufacturing facilities. Occupational Health and Safety and the Blackfalds RCMP responded to the incident. "As a company, one of our core values is the safety and well-being of our co-workers, and we believe in a zero-injury workplace," said NOVA Chemicals CEO Todd Karran in a statement. "In that regard, we are committed to doing everything possible to keep our workers safe. In the coming days and weeks, we will work with the authorities, our partners and our safety leaders to fully understand the cause of this tragedy and identify any changes we may need to make." Work was suspended at the PE1 construction site and the site was secured as an investigation has begun. No other injuries or operational impacts have been reported in relation to this incident. According to Ledcor, the company contracted by NOVA Chemicals in June of 2013 to construct a facility expansion, the facility is one of the largest production complexes of its kind in the world. Ledcor's onsite construction involves piling, earthworks, concrete foundations and structural steel. The work also includes off-site pipe fabrication and assembly of piperack modules. The modules are transported from a Nisku facility via the Alberta heavy load corridor, and upon reaching the entrance to the site they travel through the site's operating rail yard to gain access to the project site. According to Ledcor, since the Joffre facility is fully operational during construction, co-ordination with NOVA Chemicals has been fundamental to optimizing the work while minimizing plant interference and community disruption.