Monday, December 20, 2021
“For Immediate Release”
Statement from The City of Humboldt on
COURT DECISION REGARDING 2019 TRENCH COLLAPSE FATALITY
Humboldt, SK – On Monday, December 20, 2021, in a joint submission with the Crown, the City of Humboldt entered a guilty plea in Humboldt Provincial Court to one charge under the Occupational Health & Safety Regulations of the Saskatchewan Employment Act and payment of $133,000 inclusive of a fine and surcharges. This charge was in relation to an incident that resulted in the tragic fatality of City Employee, Ian Irwin in September of 2019.
On September 18, 2019, City of Humboldt Public Works employee Ian Irwin was requested to assist at an excavation where a private contractor had been engaged by the property owner to make repairs necessary to re-connect the property to City water services. While at the excavation site, Mr. Irwin entered the excavation and unfortunately moments thereafter a wall of the trench collapsed, burying Mr. Irwin.
Mr. Irwin was a valuable and well-respected member of the City’s team of employees and he continues to be missed by his co-workers. “Losing a colleague and a friend is not something any employee or employer should undergo. I want to emphasize that any fine is not intended to put a monetary value on a life, and fines are not reflections of the tragic loss of life, or the pain and suffering endured by family and friends,” said Mayor Behiel.
The City of Humboldt encourages all employers and employees to adhere to all safety requirements in their workplace for their own safety and those around them.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Penny Lee
Communications Manager, City of Humboldt
Phone: 306.682.2525, ext 330
E-mail: penny.lee@humboldt.ca