VALLEY - The Nova Scotia Department of Labour is investigating after a 48-year-old man lost part of his foot Wednesday afternoon in a workplace accident at the JD Irving Truro Sawmill.
Department spokesman Kevin Finch said the man was changing the blades on a hog fuel-chipping unit shortly before 5 p.m.
"He became caught up in the power transmission shaft of the machine. We understand the worker's foot was amputated during the incident," Finch told the Truro Daily News on Thursday.
Irving spokeswoman Mary Keith said Thursday evening the man, who had worked at the mill for 3.5 years, was in a Halifax hospital.
"He has lost part of his foot, and his leg was broken in two places. He had one surgery (Wednesday) night. He is to have three more surgeries, the first being Saturday," she said. "We are in contact with his family and have offered them support as well assistance in Halifax."
The department issued a stop work order and ordered an assessment of the machine by a qualified person to confirm it is operating in accordance with the manufacturers' operations.
"The stop work order will remain in effect until that assessment is completed and the results confirm that the machine is safe to be put back into operation," Finch said.
That could happen as early as today.
The incident was the second accident of the day at the sawmill.
"A male worker, 46, was adjusting a barrier on a moving conveyor belt. At one point the tool he was using slipped and pinched his left middle finger between the wrench and the moving belt," Finch said.
The worker was taken to hospital with a pinch injury to the finger. The incident resulted in removing the flesh below the nail. Keith said the man, who has worked at the mill for 16 years, returned to work on Thursday on modified duties.
A labour department officer issued a lockout order on the machine.
Keith said the company is co-operating with the Nova Scotia Labour and Workforce Development Occupational Health and Safety investigation while undertaking their own internal review.
"Over the years, the employees at the Valley sawmill have made this mill a leader in health and safety and we want to understand why these two accidents occurred and what action must be taken to ensure they don’t occur again," she said.
