The construction site where a worker died last Wednesday has been released back to O'Hanlon Paving Ltd., confirmed Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) on Friday afternoon.
A 25-year-old Edmonton man died after he was hit by a truck on Oct. 9 around 4 p.m. The man was working on a road resurfacing crew at the intersection of Akins Drive and Hebert Road.
The RCMP has not released his name out of respect for the family. The man died just before 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Sturgeon Community Hospital.
The man was struck by the back end of a Chevrolet pickup truck that was being driven by another crew member.
Construction workers at the scene said he was hit while taking samples from the roadway. They said there were four to five workers on site at the time.
Separate RCMP and OH&S investigations are ongoing.
Zoe Cooper, spokesperson for OH&S, said investigations typically take six months, but can last up to two years.
Road, weather, speed and alcohol are not believed to be factors in the collision. No criminal charges have been laid.
Thomas Fath, president of O'Hanlon Paving, said this is the first on-the-job death the company has experienced.
He said it was the first year on the job for the deceased man.
“The loss of the worker is a great loss and we’re working with the families to express … our sorrow,” said Fath.
O'Hanlon Paving has been operating in the Edmonton area since 1956. The company completes regular projects in St. Albert, Fath said.
The RCMP is still seeking witnesses to the collision and is asking anyone who saw this incident happen to call 780-458-7700. As well, anyone affected by this tragedy is entitled to free support and referrals from St. Albert Victim Services (780-458-4353).
There were 145 occupational fatalities in Alberta last year, the highest number reported since 2008, provincial stats show.
In 2012, a total of 35 workers died in motor vehicle accidents while on the job.
The construction and construction trade services industry accounted for 37.5 per cent of the occupational fatalities accepted by the Workers’ Compensation Board from 2008 to 2012, with a total of 254 deaths.
