For 17 years Perry Vandenberghe was an experienced maintenance engineer for United Grain Growers and the company says it wants to make sure the accident that killed him won’t occur again.
“We did our homework and investigated properly to determine what went wrong and how exactly this happened,” said Glen Black, manager of environment and safety at UGG.
“We’re very saddened by these kinds of accidents and we can’t afford to have this happen at United Grain Growers.”
The company took its investigation one step further to try to ensure the kind of accident that killed Vandenberghe Jan. 27, 1997 doesn’t happen at other grain companies either, Black said.
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The 39-year-old Deloraine man died from traumatic asphyxia when he was crushed by a 450-kilogram machine that needed a new set of bolts.
The accident occurred as Vandenberghe and a co-worker were at the company’s Souris elevator replacing the torque arm bolt that connects the head drive motor and gear box assembly to the elevating leg, said Black.
“They removed the bolt and that allowed the gear box and motor assembly to rotate freely on the shaft and gravity caused it to rotate on the shaft and crushed Perry.”
Black said the investigation showed safe use of the machine relied on employees following certain procedures at all times.
“In any accident you have to look at, do you want to rely on a safe work procedure and hope people follow it five years down the road continuously, or do you want to take that piece of equipment and engineer out of the hazard?”
That’s what the company did, he said. The manufacturer redesigned the unit so it is supported by two strong arms, or torque arms, instead of one. Now, one torque arm will continue to support the unit in an upright position when the bolts are being replaced on the other.
Black said UGG wants the rest of the industry to follow its lead.
“Every other major grain company uses this equipment in their facilities so we shared with them the contributing causes of this accident and the remedial measures taken,” Black said.
“Regardless of what happens to the charges, we want to make other people aware that ‘Hey, heed our advice. This could happen to you.’ “
An investigation into the fatality by
Human Resources Development Canada’s labor program resulted in 18 charges under the Canada Labor Code, according to spokesperson Jeff Hnatiw.
The case is scheduled to go to court May 13.
The crown lawyer prosecuting the case could not be reached for comment.
