Gnazdowsky drowned on October 16, 2020, while trying to recover a piece of floating topographic equipment that had malfunctioned in a tank in the Nova Scotia Power hydroelectric system at Sheet Harbor.
Nova Scotia Power, Gemtec Consulting Engineers and Scientists Ltd. by Fredericton and Brunswick Engineering and Consulting Inc. of Saint John are accused of numerous security breaches in connection with the incident.
Gnazdowsky, 26, worked for Brunswick Engineering. He was helping a colleague conduct a depth survey – a type of underwater mapping – using a piece of equipment that was remotely controlled, similar to a drone, and floating on the surface of the water. The couple had traveled from Saint John to collect data at the dam.
The document claims that Brunswick Engineering, a subcontractor at the Nova Scotia Power site, failed to ensure that lifebuoys or personal flotation devices were used and did not provide rescue equipment in a workplace where there was a risk of drowning, among others. breaches of the security code. The company faces a total of five categories.
The Marshall Falls Reservoir is part of the Nova Scotia Power hydroelectric system at Sheet Harbor. (Robert Short / CBC)
He claims that Gemtec Consulting Engineers and Scientists Ltd., the geotechnical engineering contractor hired by Nova Scotia Power, failed to review the tank safety plan with the staff and failed to ensure that the plan was adequate. It faces six categories in total.
Nova Scotia Power faces five charges, including failing to ensure that Brunswick Engineering employees wore life jackets or had the necessary rescue equipment.
Answers from companies
A Brunswick Engineering spokesman said in an email on Tuesday that the company had no comment. Dave Purdue, Gemtec’s vice president of operations for the West Atlantic, said the company would not comment as long as the case was before the courts. In a statement, Nova Scotia Power spokeswoman Jacqueline Foster said the tragedy weighed heavily on the company. “There is nothing more important to us than the safety of our employees, contractors and customers,” he wrote. “Security is at the heart of everything we do. As this issue is before the courts, we can not comment further.” Gnazdowsky’s sister Nicole Gnazdowsky has spoken in the past about on the quality and scope of the Ministry of Labor’s research. After speaking, the province limited contact with her to monthly emails confirming that the investigation was ongoing.
Family reaction
Gnazdowsky said she had mixed feelings about the allegations because she saw nothing that would prevent a similar tragedy from happening in the future.
“Breach of contract is not what ultimately killed my brother. It was an electricity barrier,” he told CBC News. “There is no mention of the dams and the safety of the dam in here, and that’s kind of one of the main issues for me.”
Gnazdowsky said she would likely file a lawsuit against the Justice Department, the Labor Department and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner’s Office.
“I was hoping I should not continue this fight, but looking at this list of categories it seems that I will probably have to keep pushing to achieve what really should happen here,” he said. .
Andrew and Nicole Gnazdowsky on a family vacation in France. She has spoken about the quality of the investigation into her brother’s death. (Submitted by Nicole Gnazdowsky)
In a statement, the Labor Ministry said it was sending “its heartfelt condolences” to the family and friends who mourned Gnazdowski’s loss.
“We know that waiting for this day has paid off,” he said. “The department has conducted a thorough and objective investigation into this fatal workplace, which has resulted in charges being brought. As this is now before the courts, further investigations should be directed to the Public Services.”
Nova Scotia Power’s Contractor Security Program 2018which sets standards for contractors and the employees who manage them, categorizes water or boat work as a high-risk activity that requires a safety plan, risk assessment and personal protective equipment.
The program shows an example of a job risk analysis checklist that says that any work around the water involves communicating water flow information and boating safety precautions, with tasks assigned to either the contractor or a utility representative.
title: “Nova Scotia Power N.B. Companies Charged In Drowning Death Of Engineer " ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-29” author: “Todd Henriksen”
Gnazdowsky drowned on October 16, 2020, while trying to recover a piece of floating topographic equipment that had malfunctioned in a tank in the Nova Scotia Power hydroelectric system at Sheet Harbor.
Nova Scotia Power, Gemtec Consulting Engineers and Scientists Ltd. by Fredericton and Brunswick Engineering and Consulting Inc. of Saint John are accused of numerous security breaches in connection with the incident.
Gnazdowsky, 26, worked for Brunswick Engineering. He was helping a colleague conduct a depth survey – a type of underwater mapping – using a piece of equipment that was remotely controlled, similar to a drone, and floating on the surface of the water. The couple had traveled from Saint John to collect data at the dam.
The document claims that Brunswick Engineering, a subcontractor at the Nova Scotia Power site, failed to ensure that lifebuoys or personal flotation devices were used and did not provide rescue equipment in a workplace where there was a risk of drowning, among others. breaches of the security code. The company faces a total of five categories.
The Marshall Falls Reservoir is part of the Nova Scotia Power hydroelectric system at Sheet Harbor. (Robert Short / CBC)
He claims that Gemtec Consulting Engineers and Scientists Ltd., the geotechnical engineering contractor hired by Nova Scotia Power, failed to review the tank safety plan with the staff and failed to ensure that the plan was adequate. It faces six categories in total.
Nova Scotia Power faces five charges, including failing to ensure that Brunswick Engineering employees wore life jackets or had the necessary rescue equipment.
Answers from companies
A Brunswick Engineering spokesman said in an email on Tuesday that the company had no comment. Dave Purdue, Gemtec’s vice president of operations for the West Atlantic, said the company would not comment as long as the case was before the courts. In a statement, Nova Scotia Power spokeswoman Jacqueline Foster said the tragedy weighed heavily on the company. “There is nothing more important to us than the safety of our employees, contractors and customers,” he wrote. “Security is at the heart of everything we do. As this issue is before the courts, we can not comment further.” Gnazdowsky’s sister Nicole Gnazdowsky has spoken in the past about on the quality and scope of the Ministry of Labor’s research. After speaking, the province limited contact with her to monthly emails confirming that the investigation was ongoing.
Family reaction
Gnazdowsky said she had mixed feelings about the allegations because she saw nothing that would prevent a similar tragedy from happening in the future.
“Breach of contract is not what ultimately killed my brother. It was an electricity barrier,” he told CBC News. “There is no mention of the dams and the safety of the dam in here, and that’s kind of one of the main issues for me.”
Gnazdowsky said she would likely file a lawsuit against the Justice Department, the Labor Department and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner’s Office.
“I was hoping I should not continue this fight, but looking at this list of categories it seems that I will probably have to keep pushing to achieve what really should happen here,” he said. .
Andrew and Nicole Gnazdowsky on a family vacation in France. She has spoken about the quality of the investigation into her brother’s death. (Submitted by Nicole Gnazdowsky)
In a statement, the Labor Ministry said it was sending “its heartfelt condolences” to the family and friends who mourned Gnazdowski’s loss.
“We know that waiting for this day has paid off,” he said. “The department has conducted a thorough and objective investigation into this fatal workplace, which has resulted in charges being brought. As this is now before the courts, further investigations should be directed to the Public Services.”
Nova Scotia Power’s Contractor Security Program 2018which sets standards for contractors and the employees who manage them, categorizes water or boat work as a high-risk activity that requires a safety plan, risk assessment and personal protective equipment.
The program shows an example of a job risk analysis checklist that says that any work around the water involves communicating water flow information and boating safety precautions, with tasks assigned to either the contractor or a utility representative.
