Family of man killed on job calls for action
Ombudsman needed in NWT, say relatives of David Vinnicombe
Kirsten Fenn
Northern News Services
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The family of a 19-year-old man killed on the job in Inuvik last year is calling on the GNWT to hire an ombudsman and improve the systems for investigating and preventing workplace deaths.
Robbie Vinnicombe speaks about the impact of his son David's death to a crowd of people at the legislative assembly on April 28, the National Day of Mourning for workers who have been killed or injured on the job. |
"There is nothing in this whole world that can bring my baby boy back again," the boy's father, Robbie Vinnicombe, told a crowd during Yellowknife's National Day of Mourning on Friday for workers injured or killed on the job.
He said he spoke publicly last week to give his son a voice and "make damn sure his beautiful life is not just swept away."
Robbie's son, David Vinnicombe, was killed last June in a heavy machinery accident on the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility road, his aunt Jacqui Vinnicombe told Yellowknifer.
She travelled with her brother Robbie from Australia to the city last week to speak at the day of mourning and share their concerns about workers' safety in the NWT.
According to the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC), 40 people have died on the job in the NWT and Nunavut between 2011 and 2015. Five of those were in Yellowknife.
The WSCC is currently investigating Vinnicombe's death, according to spokesperson Kim Walker, but could not say what results might come of it.
Walker said the WSCC has one year from the time of Vinnicombe's accident to complete its investigation.
The Vinnicombes want to see improvements to how workers' deaths and their families are treated.
"As our family has lost a loved one, we've been dealing with the system," Robbie said. "And there's lots of room for improvement."
He said his family had little information about the investigation into David's accident, leading them to believe it wasn't effective.
"And the effectiveness of the investigation helps save a life in the future," Robbie said.
"If you do a shoddy job now ... there'll be another fatality down the track."
Jacqui said she and her brother have relayed their concerns to the minister of justice and the minister responsible for WSCC and are encouraging them to make some big changes.
That includes hiring an ombudsman, something they said everyone should have the right to.
"It is a fundamental flaw in your system here," Robbie said of not having one in the NWT.
His sister Jacqui added that being in the North doesn't mean there should be an exception. While David can't be brought back, his father said he doesn't want his son's death to be in vain.
"We want to see positive change," said Jacqui. "Because there's plenty of room for improvement in the Northwest Territories."
