CBC investigation prompts coroner’s inquest into 1996 construction death
A Radio-Canada/CBC News investigation into the death of construction worker Olivier Bruneau has resulted in a coroner’s inquest into a previous death, under the same employer, more than 20 years ago.
Bruneau, 24, died in March 2016 when he was crushed by a slab of falling ice at a construction site in Ottawa’s Little Italy neighbourhood. Paramedics who responded to the call estimated the ice weighed up to 45 kilograms.
- Olivier Bruneau killed by ice chunk weeks after fellow construction worker hit
- Accused in death of construction worker, company linked to death of other workers
In March 2017 the Ministry of Labour charged Claridge Homes, Bellai Brothers Construction Ltd. and two supervisors, including Leo Simard from Bellai Brithers, for failing to ensure the health and safety of workers and failing to employ proper safety measures and procedures.
A Radio-Canada/CBC News investigation later revealed that Bellai Brothers was convicted of offences related to the deaths of two other workers in 1996. Jesus Revilla was one of them.
The regional supervising coroner announced Dec. 1, that an inquest will now be held into Revilla’s death, more than two decades later.