Worker killed at Peace River mill in Alberta

PEACE RIVER, ALTA. – A worker has died while doing maintenance shutdown work at an Alberta mill.  

Mercer International Inc. announced that on June 11 an independent contractor’s employee suffered a fatal workplace incident at its Peace River mill in Peace River. Mercer added it has initiated an incident investigation and is fully co-operating with the authorities.

Company officials told reporters the 53-year-old man was connected to annual maintenance shutdown work taking place at the facility. The plant completed its two-week shutdown earlier this month. The shutdown was initiated to aid several construction projects.

“We are saddened about the loss of life of one of our contractor’s employees and our thoughts are with the individual’s family and colleagues,” said Roger Ashfield, managing director of Mercer Peace River. “An investigation of the accident has been started and we are working with the authorities and the contracting company to find out how this tragic incident occurred. Mercer’s emergency procedures were immediately activated and our industrial safety and occupational health personnel were involved for support.”

The company has plants in Canada, Germany, Australia and the U.S. that create a variety of forest products, bioproducts and green electricity. The mill in Peace River creates softwood and hardwood pulp.