Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Utility worker Eric Labelle, 47, of St-Colomban, Que.,employed by Quebec-based ExperTech, was electrocuted to death in Peterborough after equipment came into contact with overhead power lines








Peterborough, Ontario, Canada


On Monday (July 3), a utility worker was electrocuted in Peterborough after equipment came into contact with overhead power lines.

The accident, which happened at around 3:30 p.m. at an address on Brealey Drive near Parkhill Road, caused a widespread power outage affecting around 15,000 Peterborough Utilities customers in the west end of Peterborough.

Police, fire, and emergency medical services responded to the accident and Brealey Drive was closed between Ireland Drive and Parkhill Road West. Investigators from the Ontario Ministry of Labour were called in around 5:30 p.m.

Peterborough Utilities were unable to restore power to customers in the west end while the accident was being investigated. Once the initial investigation was completed, power was restored to most customers at around 7 p.m.

According to Peterborough police, the investigation has since been turned over to the Federal Ministry of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.

The utility worker, a man in his late 30s or early 40s, was employed by Quebec-based ExperTech. ExperTech is contracted by Bell Canada to provision its network in Ontario and Quebec.



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An investigation is continuing after a 47-year-old worker from Quebec was electrocuted on Brealey Drive on Monday afternoon.

Eric Labelle, 47, of St-Colomban, Que., was a seven-year employee at ExperTech, a telecommunications network installation company operating in Ontario and Quebec, according to the Unifor union.
"The thoughts and prayers of our entire union are with Éric's family during this very sad time," Jerry Dias, Unifor national president, stated Tuesday. "His death is a poignant reminder that we must continue pushing employers and the government that work is safe for everyone."

Labelle had been seconded to work in Ontario, according to Unifor. Labelle leaves behind a wife and four children. He was a member of Unifor Local 8284 in St-Léonard, Que.

"You can be certain that our union is following the investigation to ensure that the regulations and guidelines surrounding health and safety were followed," stated Unifor Québec director Renaud Gagné.


City police closed Brealey Drive between Parkhill Road West and Ireland Drive for an investigation on Monday, July 3, 2017 after Eric Labelle, 47, of St-Colomban, Que., was electrocuted after making contact with an overhead power line while working in the area. (Reg Watson/Peterborough Examiner/Postmedia Network)

In honour of all who have died while working to earn a living, Unifor is calling on all levels of government for stronger enforcement of the law, with increased safety inspections and harsh penalties for those who would protect profit over people.

"The pain of the injured and lives of those lost must not go unrecognized and unaccounted for," Dias stated.

The accident around 3:30 p.m. knocked out power for an estimated 15,000 Peterborough Utilities customers in the west end.

"A third party company has made contact with the overhead power lines," Peterborough Utilities spokeswoman Susan Lake stated Monday.

Most customers had power restored by 6 p.m., but about 1,200 customers remained without power in the areas of Jackson Creek, Ravenwood Dr. and Parkhill Rd. W. (from Wallis Dr. to Brealey Dr.) until about 10 p.m. while the Ministry of Labour continued the investigation.


An Ornge air ambulance takes off on Monday, July 3, 2017 after Eric Labelle, 47, of St-Colomban, Que., was electrocuted after making contact with an overhead power line while working in the area. (Reg Watson/Peterborough Examiner/Postmedia Network)

An Ornge air ambulance landed in a field nearby around 4 p.m. and then took off around 4:50 p.m. without a patient, according to Ornge.

Local paramedics and city firefighters were also at the scene.



The Ministry of Labour arrives to investigate on Brealey Drive between Parkhill Road West and Ireland Drive on Monday, July 3, 2017 after Eric Labelle, 47, of St-Colomban, Que., was electrocuted after making contact with an overhead power line while working in the area. (Reg Watson/Peterborough Examiner/Postmedia Network)

City police closed Brealey Drive between Ireland Drive and Parkhill Road West for the investigation. The stretch reopened by 10 p.m. after the power was fully restored.

The Ministry of Labour arrived on scene at about 5:20 p.m. to begin an on-site investigation.

Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Canada also investigated because telecom wires are a federal jurisdiction.



City police closed Brealey Drive between Parkhill Road West and Ireland Drive for an investigation on Monday, July 3, 2017 after Eric Labelle, 47, of St-Colomban, Que., was electrocuted after making contact with an overhead power line while working in the area. (Reg Watson/Peterborough Examiner/Postmedia Network)

City police did not release any further information about the accident because it is not a criminal incident.

The investigation was centred around where a crew in a white Bell Canada truck had been working near the Stenson's Family Market stand.

It's the second electrocution death accident in Peterborough this year. A man was electrocuted on Brown Street in April.


A city public works crew puts up a road block after city police closed Brealey Drive between Parkhill Road after Eric Labelle, 47, of St-Colomban, Que., was electrocuted a worker was seriously injured after making contact with an overhead power line while working in the area. (Reg Watson/Peterborough Examiner/Postmedia Network)