ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Politicians are expressing sympathy and the union representing workers is calling for an inquiry after a man injured in an explosion last month at a Newfoundland refinery died Saturday.
Premier Andrew Furey and federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan, who represents the St. John’s South-Mount Pearl district, tweeted messages of support for the man’s family Sunday evening.
Furey urged those affected to seek out mental health services while O’Regan wrote that nobody should go to work worried they may not come home.
Meanwhile, the United Steelworkers union says the incident was preventable, and it is demanding that the provincial government launch an inquiry into the deadly Sept. 2 explosion.
Local 9316 president Glenn Nolan said in a Facebook post Sunday that the worker, Shawn Peddle, fought for his life in hospital for six weeks before he died Saturday night.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2022.
The Canadian Press