A Regina man died in a workplace accident at a wind-farm construction site in Springdale, NB, prompting a coroner’s inquest
Coroner’s Inquest Scheduled for Saskatchewan Man’s Death
A coroner’s inquest will take place next week in Saint John. This inquest is regarding the death of a Saskatchewan man at a job site in New Brunswick a year and a half ago.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Matthew Barun |
| Age | 46 |
| Location | Regina, Saskatchewan |
| Date of Incident | July 18, 2024 |
| Job Title | Pilot Truck Driver |
| Company | Richards Transport Ltd. |
| Project | Neweg Energy Project |
| Weight of Dolly | More than 27,000 kilograms |
| Charges | Two counts under Occupational Health and Safety Act |
| Fine | $25,000 |
Matthew Barun died in a workplace accident at a construction site where wind turbines were being erected in the Springdale area, east of Sussex. He was unloading a wind turbine tower when he was “fatally crushed,” according to a WorkSafeNB investigative report obtained by CBC News last year.
Barun was run over while trying to stop a runaway trailer, known as a dolly. This dolly had come detached from an off-road forklift at the site. The six-axle dolly weighed more than 27,000 kilograms.
Windturbine Construction Team Inc., the company responsible for installing the turbines, was charged with two counts under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. This followed an investigation by WorkSafeNB.
The charges were for failing to ensure that an industrial lift truck was not loaded beyond its capacity and for failing to ensure that the truck was used only for its intended purpose.
Brawn’s sister, Erinn-Jane Brawn, described him as someone who would do anything for anyone. She said last year that a court-imposed $25,000 fine on one of the companies involved was a “slap in the face.”
A news release from the province on Thursday stated that regional coroner Danny Mallet and a jury will hear evidence regarding the death. A coroner’s inquest cannot determine legal responsibility for a death but can make non-binding recommendations to prevent similar accidents.
