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Irving Shipbuilding faces charges of safety violations in Halifax worker's 2024 death

Irving Shipbuilding faces charges of safety violations in Halifax worker's 2024 death

HALIFAX – Irving Shipbuilding is scheduled to enter a plea Oct. 1 on charges of violating workplace safety rules after an employee died last year at its Halifax site.
A lawyer for the family-owned company appeared in provincial court on Monday for arraignment on five counts of violating the Occupational Health and Safety Act on Feb. 19, 2024.
Jamie Knight died that day after he was struck by a piece of equipment during snow removal operations at the yard.
The province's Labour Department laid charges alleging the company failed to create a safe work plan and a risk assessment for snow removal.
The department also alleges that the company did not ensure the snow removal equipment was used according to the manufacturer's specifications, and failed to appoint a person to direct the machine's movements.
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Irving is building the Royal Canadian Navy's new fleet at the company's Halifax shipyard, with the next stage being construction of the River-class destroyers.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 8, 2025.
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Presumed drowning death reignites calls for river safety in Kamloops — but city say it's not that simple
Presumed drowning death reignites calls for river safety in Kamloops — but city say it's not that simple

CBC

time3 days ago

  • CBC

Presumed drowning death reignites calls for river safety in Kamloops — but city say it's not that simple

Social Sharing The presumed death of an international student who was swept away in the Thompson River last weekend was "entirely foreseeable [and] entirely preventable," according to a Kamloops, B.C., resident who saved two students from a similar fate last year. Robert Griffiths, who says he nearly drowned during his rescue efforts near the city's airport last summer, says the city has done nothing to increase safety in popular areas along the river, such as increasing signage or installing life rings. But a City of Kamloops official says installing safety equipment could actually increase the risk of drownings by giving the impression that dangerous areas of the river are safe to swim in — exposing the city to liability. On July 6, a Thompson Rivers University international student was playing volleyball on a popular local beach at Overlanders Park when the ball went into the water. 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‘Not a pedophile': B.C. teacher suspended for one day for touching students in gym class
‘Not a pedophile': B.C. teacher suspended for one day for touching students in gym class

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time4 days ago

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‘Not a pedophile': B.C. teacher suspended for one day for touching students in gym class

The floor of a school gymnasium is seen in this stock image. (Credit: Shutterstock) A teacher in B.C.'s Interior who 'periodically' touched students during fitness class has been handed a one-day suspension by the regulatory body. Todd Erin Graham entered a consent agreement with the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation last month in which he admitted to professional misconduct. The decision was posted publicly online Wednesday. The commissioner says while teaching a fitness and conditioning class called Human Performance 12 between September and December 2022, Grahm separated the girls from the boys for a meeting. 'In that meeting, Graham told the girls that he was 'not a pedophile' but that he might have to 'grab them' to show them proper form or to spot them,' the decision reads. 'Graham then told them that he had no attraction to them as he was 62 and they were 15. The students reported feeling uncomfortable following this meeting.' The commissioner says Graham would 'periodically' touch students during exercises, which some female students reported feeling uncomfortable about, and gave three examples. In one instance, the teacher touched the side of a student's chest while she was doing a bench press and asked, 'can you feel that?'. In another, he pushed a student's hips while she did squats, according to the document. In a third incident Graham complimented a student's legs while she was using the leg press machine, a remark she reported feeling uncomfortable with. The school district issued a letter of discipline and required Graham to attend a boundaries course as a result. The consent agreement also addressed comments Graham made in 2022 and 2023. In one incident, Graham singled out a 'diverse learner' in front of the class and described them using an 'unflattering term,' the regulator says. He also singled out an Indigenous student 'in a manner which was demeaning to (the student) specifically and to Indigenous peoples generally.' For those comments, the district issued a disciplinary letter and required him to complete a course on reconciliation. As a result of its investigation, the commissioner suspended Graham's teaching qualification for one day, and required he take the course Reinforcing Respectful Professional Boundaries at the Justice Institute of B.C. by September. Factors considered in the decision, the regulator says, included that the teacher failed to create a positive learning environment, adversely impacted students, failed to respect appropriate boundaries, and harmed First Nations students in a way that did not contribute to truth and reconciliation.

Irving Shipbuilding faces safety violations in Halifax worker's 2024 death
Irving Shipbuilding faces safety violations in Halifax worker's 2024 death

Toronto Sun

time5 days ago

  • Toronto Sun

Irving Shipbuilding faces safety violations in Halifax worker's 2024 death

Published Jul 08, 2025 • 1 minute read Irving Shipbuilding is scheduled to enter a plea Oct. 1 on charges of violating workplace safety rules after an employee died last year at its Halifax site. Photo by Postmedia Network files HALIFAX — Irving Shipbuilding is scheduled to enter a plea Oct. 1 on charges of violating workplace safety rules after an employee died last year at its Halifax site. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account A lawyer for the family-owned company appeared in provincial court on Monday for arraignment on five counts of violating the Occupational Health and Safety Act on Feb. 19, 2024. Jamie Knight died that day after he was struck by a piece of equipment during snow removal operations at the yard. The Labour Department is alleging the company failed to create a safe work plan and a risk assessment for snow removal. It also alleges Irving did not ensure the snow removal equipment was used according to the manufacturer's specifications, and failed to appoint a person to direct the machine's movements. In addition, the department alleges the company failed to ensure there was a risk assessment for hazards that workers could potentially encounter in the space between their work stations and the designated smoking area. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Read More Irving is building the Royal Canadian Navy's new fleet at the company's Halifax shipyard, with the next stage being construction of the River-class destroyers. The company has about 2,400 employees. A spokeswoman for the shipyard said the death last year was 'a tragedy that deeply saddened the Irving Shipbuilding community. 'Health and safety is a core value of Irving Shipbuilding and the company has complied with relevant laws, regulations, and the investigation relating to this incident,' Mel Schori wrote in an email. 'We will not be commenting further on the legal proceedings at this stage.' She noted that on April 28 of each year the company joins organizations across Canada in acknowledging a National Day of Mourning for workers who have died, been injured or become ill as a result of their jobs. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Canada Toronto Blue Jays Canada Sunshine Girls Crime

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