Recycling plant CEO says recent NB workplace death ‘just all bad luck’ Globalnews.ca

The CEO of the New Brunswick recycling plant, which has seen two workplace deaths in the past seven months, says the deaths are not his company’s responsibility, calling it “misfortune.”

“I don’t see what my facility could have done to stop it,” Herb BlackThe CEO of American Iron and Metal (AIM) told reporters in St. John’s on Tuesday.

Black said his company was mourning the loss, but dropped the blame, questioned the accuracy of the news outlets, and only took aim at politicians during media events.

“Till seven months ago, we never discussed anything here because there was nothing to discuss,” he said.

“I think it’s all bad luck.”

An unidentified employee died in November 2021 After a crane operator pulled out the trailer of the truck, no one was found inside.

Black said the death was a human error and that it happened when the worker decided to exit the truck on the right, “which is completely blind.”

“If you tell me someone is going to crawl into the back of the trailer while it’s being unloaded and come out one door because the other door is locked — that’s just unbelievable,” he said.

Black said that prior to this fatality, the company had never had an accident unloading a truck in six decades, “so our procedures are very good.”

“We have unloaded over a million trucks like this and we have never had an accident. And when I say a million, I’m not exaggerating.”

Seven months later, in June of this year, AIM subcontractor Darrell Richards, 60, died following an incident at the facility.

According to Richards’ family, he died of a leg injury.

“He was cutting a paper roll that had paper on it and as soon as he made the second cut, he had already made a full cut, something that caused the roll to decompress,” said his daughter-in-law, Christa Collins, who was invited by the company to speak on media availability.

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After Richards’ death, elected officials called for changes to the facility.

But Collins told reporters Tuesday that this is not what the family wants, adding that social media has spread false information.

“So all I would ask is, until the investigation is complete, let WorkSafe New Brunswick do its job and stop trying to be the voice of a person you don’t know,” she said.

That WorkSafeNB investigation could take more than a year to complete.

In the meantime, Black said his company wants to continue working with investigators and consider any recommendations to mitigate future risks.

“Listen, I’m not a god, I only have the experience I’ve accumulated over 62 years (in business),” he said.

“I am 78 years old. I am a father, I am a grandfather, I have grandchildren, I have children. I have a family just like these people who died and I feel for them and my people, my work with The people doing things are like my fingers. They are all precious to me.”

History of plant complaints, concerns of politicians

AIM sits on federal property and has a 40-year lease with the Port of St. John, which was signed in 2002.

While the federal government is the landowner, the province is responsible for issuing and maintaining operating licenses. Typically, renewal occurs every six months.

In recent years, there have been complaints about excessive noise, explosions and environmental issues related to air and water quality.

There is a demand to suspend the license of the company, and The province has stepped in and temporarily suspended the license.

After two deaths, Liberal MP Wayne Long once again Called upon the province to suspend the company’s operating license.

“For me, it’s a breaking straw,” he told Global News on July 7.

“I am not satisfied that the workers are safe there. I am not satisfied that the community is safe.”

But Black hit back at Long on Tuesday.

“How many times do you think the MP has shown up? Never!” said Black.

“If he’s so curious and he’s so concerned about people and worried or worried about it, why not go?”

— With a file by Silas Brown