CN Rail reports of industrial fatality on CN Property in Port Edward

Update:  The Teamsters Rail Conference which represents railway workers in Canada provided more details to the Monday incident which claimed the life of a CN Rail conductor.

The name of the worker has not been released, he was working on a switching operation in the Port Edward area.

“On behalf of Canada’s over 125,000 Teamster members, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to our fallen brother’s loved ones and colleagues. Incidents like these are never acceptable. Every accident, every fatality is preventable.” -- National president of Teamsters Canada, François Laporte

The Port Edward incident marked the second time where a CN rail conductor has died on the job in the month of June, the previous workplace incident took place in Vancouver.

From the Teamsters Rail Conference

Both workers were performing “switching operations,” a term that refers to activities like making up and marshalling trains, storing cars, serving industries within rail terminals, and other related activities. 

 A total of twelve railroaders have died on the job in the past two and a half years. 

 “This industry has suffered far too many preventable tragedies. We need to find new ways to focus on safety. Our union continues to work with employers, the federal government and other stakeholders in hopes of preventing future accidents and ultimately saving lives,” national president of Teamsters Canada, François Laporte-- TCRC President, Lyndon Isaak.

The full statement from the Teamsters Canada Rail conference can be reviewed here.

Later in the week a Go Fund Me Fundraiser page was created for the victim, Daniel Paulusse, you can find that item here.

Original Story

Few details have been released so far by CN Rail related to an incident which took place yesterday on CN Property in the Port Edward area.

Earlier today, the national railway confirmed the death of one of its employees on Monday.

A short advisory from the railway offered condolences to the family of the employee and the community.

So far neither WorkSafe BC or the BC Coroners Service have issued notices related to the incident.



For more notes related to CN Operation on the Northern mainline see our archive page here.