Man found lifeless on a conveyor of the Quebec incinerator: he died of suffocation

A homeless man who was found lifeless at the Quebec incinerator in September 2023 died of suffocation after falling into a waste container whose depth he did not know, according to the coroner’s report.

This is the observation made by M^e Donald Nicole, in his investigation report into the death of Marcel Saint-Laurent.

The 61-year-old man, who had no fixed address, probably wanted to retrieve something from inside a waste container and was unable to get out due to the depth, we can read in the report.

“Being stuck in this enclosed space with waste, including some decomposing organic waste, he died of suffocation following a lack of oxygen,” says M^e Nicole.

According to this same report, the elements collected during the coroner’s investigation “suggest that Mr. St-Laurent was under the influence of a stimulating substance when he entered the “Urbin” type container”, the model being CSEG-5000.

This type of container, half buried in the ground, has a total depth of almost three meters, only part of which is visible.

The bag from the container in question was collected by truck and transported to the incinerator, where the victim’s body was found.

Added stickers

M^e Nicole contacted the manufacturer of these waste containers, the Durabac company, for investigation purposes.

“The latter will add a notice to these CSEG-5000 containers, in order to inform users of the danger that the depth of the buried and non-visible part of this type of container may represent. There is therefore no need to make recommendations,” ruled the coroner.

The company also confirmed to Journal having added stickers to warn users of the risks related to the depth of the containers.

“It was done as soon as we received the request. The notices will be on all the bins concerned,” indicated Justin Charbonneau, sales director at Durabac.

Mr. Charbonneau also specified that the container in which Mr. Saint-Laurent remained stuck was emptied using a crane. There is therefore a bag inside the container and it is this bag which is removed using the crane.

Excerpts from the coroner’s report

• “It can be difficult to differentiate a semi-buried container from a surface container and to assess the danger associated with the depth of the semi-buried container.”
• “With a depth of 2.97 meters and smooth interior walls, it is very difficult, if not impossible, for a person who falls inside a CSEG-5000 container to escape without assistance.”