On December 19, 2023, a truck driver lost his life in the flooded career of the Lafarge company in Montreal-Est, when he was a prisoner of his heavy goods vehicle, completely submerged.
The truck driver had taken the main path as is the habit, due to the management of the deficient vehicle circulation.
This main path was however impracticable and dangerous, not being suitable for a circulation of vehicles during a flood. This is what caused the truck to the right of its trajectory and fall into the ditch, concludes the CNESST investigation report, the conclusions of which have just been made public.
Rescue attempts
When the accident occurred, the truck driver used his radio to launch a distress call, indicating that he was stuck and asking for help.
Only, several people who heard the call believed that it was simply bogged down and did not consider the critical situation. When colleagues tried to get in touch with him again, without success, all understood that the situation was probably more serious.
A loader operator who had heard the call on the radio saw the truck in the ditch. He tried to approach it by the front, but his vehicle also bogged down dangerously. He then tried to approach the truck from the rear to push it, without more success.
At that time, there was only the bucket that was visible on the surface of the water.
-A second loader operator then arose but faced the same stamping problems. The two operators received from the team of rescuers the order to no longer try anything, especially since there was a risk of hanging an underground electric cable of 22,000 volts which passed behind the position of the truck.
“A few hours later, a team of PVM divers takes out the driver from the flexible truck cabin. His death is noted on the scene, ”reads the CNESST report.
Insufficient pumping capacity
In addition to the deficient markup and the poor maintenance of the main path, the CNESST retained this other cause to explain the mortal work accident:
“The strong rain precipitation, combined with an insufficient pumping capacity of the accumulations of water, flooded the main path as well as the drainage ditches, which led to the complete immersion of the truck,” said the CNESST by press release.
Following the accident, the government agency prohibited the use of the main path leading to the loading area at Lafarge career.
On May 1, 2024, a year ago today, the ban on using the main path was lifted since the employer developed an intervention procedure in the event of flooding and informed and trained workers on this subject.
Prevention measures
“To prevent accidents when moving vehicles in careers as a result of floods, solutions exist, in particular identifying and analyzing the dangers linked to floods in the career and implementing the measures to eliminate them, in particular a marking and adequate maintenance of the paths intended to prevent trucks from being in the water,” adds the CNESST.
The investigation report will be sent to various associations in the construction industry, as well as to all prevention mutual managers.
