City workers are mourning the loss of one of their own after a workplace death at a water treatment plant east of Winnipeg.
RCMP say around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday a 58-year-old Winnipeg man was working on equipment on top of a large chemical storage tank when he fell to the ground. Emergency crews were called immediately. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.
"Very, very tragically and very, very sadly the worker succumbed to his injuries.” said the city’s director of water and waste, Moira Geer.
Workplace Safety and Health is investigating. Few details are being released about the workplace death. The city says safety protocols are in place at the plant.
"It puts things in perspective. I mean that's the core responsibility, you want to keep your workers safe," said Brian Mayes, the councillor who chairs the water and waste committee.
The 58-year-old was a member of CUPE Local 500. The union put out a statement saying tragedies like this shouldn't happen.
"Anytime a worker doesn't make it home at the end of the day, it's a grim reminder of the work we still have to do to protect our members and all workers."
Geer says the city is focusing on supports for the family and co-workers and grief counsellors are being made available.
"To help people deal with this life altering event and we're just doing everything we can right now to honour our colleague," said Geer.
Flags are at half- mast at Winnipeg City Hall and other civic buildings. The water and waste committee also held a moment of silence and offered condolences.
Committee member and city councillor Scott Gillingham shared his own story. Gillingham’s brother died on the job with Manitoba Hydro, nearly two decades ago to the day.
"We got a call that day that he was killed on the job, and so obviously 20 years later it stays with families. You never -- you're never the same," said Gillingham.
The city says this is the 18th workplace death since it began tracking in 1978
