Wal-Mart Charged in Worker’s Electrocution
A Wal-Mart store in Grand Falls, NB, and one of its supervisors have been charged after a 17-year-old worker died in hospital from an electric shock he received while using an electric floor buffer on a wet floor.
The victim, Patrick Desjardins, who was in his final year of high school, loved life, his family, friends and the outdoors, according to his obituary.
Charges issued by WorkSafe New Brunswick against Wal- Mart are as follows:
Failure to ensure the health and safety of workers by allowing the use of an inappropriate floor polisher and a faulty extension cord in the garage area.
Failure to ensure that employees complied with specific requirements when using a tool.
Failure to ensure that the garage was inspected by the employer at least once a month to identify any risks to employees’ health and safety.
Failure to ensure that the floor polisher was inspected before use and repaired or replaced if necessary and was maintained in proper working condition.
Failure to ensure that employees were instructed to use the floor polisher only for the specific purpose for which it was designed.
Failure to ensure that an electric power-operated tool (a floor polisher) is tested for the effectiveness of the double insulation or bonding to ground before each use by a continuity tester or ground fault circuit interrupter.
Failure to ensure that electrical equipment is suitable for its use and that it is maintained and modified in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications—specifically by permitting the use of a faulty extension cord.
In addition, Wal-Mart supervisor Denis Morin has been charged with allowing the use of an inappropriate floor polisher and a faulty extension cord and failure to acquaint the worker with any hazards in connection with the use of a tool or machine. The maximum fine on each count is $250,000.
