NL Hydro has been notified of Occupational Health and Safety charges to be laid in connection with an incident at the Holyrood Terminal Station that claimed the life of a worker.

The incident occurred in August of 2023.

The employee, who was in his 60s, came into contact with electricity in the switchyard area and died while being transported to hospital.

NL Hydro says it has cooperated fully with the OHS investigation and provided all requested information.

The utility is reviewing the charges and will address them through the court process.

NL Hydro says the tragedy, involving one of its own workers, continues to weigh heavily on all staff.

The OHS charges include:

• Failure to provide and maintain a workplace and the necessary equipment, systems and tools to ensure worker safety.
• Failure to provide the information, instruction, training, supervision and facilities necessary to ensure worker safety.
• Failure to review and revise the occupational health and safety program at least every three years.
• Failure to ensure that the necessary protective clothing and devices were used for worker’s health and safety.
• Failure to ensure that safe work procedures are followed at the workplace.
• Failure to ensure that work procedures promote the safe interaction of workers and their work environment.
• Failure to ensure that personal protective equipment was selected and used in accordance with recognized standards and provide effective protection.
• Failure to ensure that each tool, machine and piece of equipment in the workplace was selected, used and operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and instructions.
• Failure to ensure that, where minimum distances set out in subsection 498(3) of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations cannot be maintained, an assurance in writing on a form acceptable to the minister and signed by a representative of the owner of the power system was obtained.

A supervisor has also been charged with failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all workers under their supervision.