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CN confirms employee death on property in Northern B.C.

CN email statement said fatality was close to Prince Rupert
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CN Rail confirmed the death of an employee on June 15, at a Port Edward site in Northern B.C. (File Photo)

CN Rail has confirmed the death of an employee on June 15, in Port Edward.

“Yesterday, a fatal incident occurred on CN property involving a CN employee in Port Edward, BC,” the rail company said in an emailed statement, received by the The Northern View.

“We want to offer our sincere condolences to the employee’s family and community in these tragic times.”

Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), the largest rail union in the country, said the man in his thirties had been with CN since 2018.

“This is the second CN conductor to die on the job this month in B.C. Another conductor died on June 1 in Surrey,” Teamsters said.

“Both workers were performing “switching operations,” a term that refers to activities like making up and marshalling trains, storing cars, serving industries within rail terminals, and other related activities.

READ MORE: Investigators probe death of CN employee at Surrey rail yard

“On behalf of Canada’s over 125,000 Teamster members, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to our fallen brother’s loved ones and colleagues,” Francois Laporte, national president of Teamsters Canada said.

“Incidents like these are never acceptable. Every accident, every fatality is preventable.”

A total of twelve railroaders have died on the job in the past two and a half years.

“This industry has suffered far too many preventable tragedies. We need to find new ways to focus on safety. Our union continues to work with employers, the federal government and other stakeholders in hopes of preventing future accidents and ultimately saving lives,” Lyndon Isaak president of the TCRC said.

“In the meantime, we remind all our members to stay vigilant and aware of their surroundings at all times while at work,” Isaak added.

The Transportation Safety Board is aware of the accident.

“At this time we are assessing the event and gathering information,” Alexandre Fournier, TSB media relations specialist said.

RCMP are assisting in the workplace fatality that occurred and can confirm there is no criminality suspected. No further information is had at this time, Cpl. Madonna Saunderson RCMP media relations said.

READ MORE: Train derailment in Prince Rupert


 K-J Millar | Journalist 
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