N.S. carpenter paralyzed in work injury on Highway 104 project frustrated by Workers' Compensation Board
CTV
Daily life at the MacKay household in Trenton, N.S., has changed dramatically ever since 50-year-old Matthew was paralyzed while working on the twinning of Nova Scotia Highway 104.
Daily life at the MacKay household in Trenton, N.S., has changed dramatically ever since 50-year-old Matthew was paralyzed while working on the twinning of Nova Scotia Highway 104.
The $364.3 million construction project is meant to address safety concerns along the stretch of highway between Sutherlands River and Antigonish. The newly twinned section opened Dec. 6, the same day CTV News spoke to the MacKays.
“You think that you're going to be taken care of, until you go through it,” says his wife, Jodi, tears welling in her eyes.
The Aug. 3 incident wasn't made public by the province at the time it happened.
The Department of Labour has confirmed to CTV News that officers with the safety branch responded to a safety incident that occurred on Hwy. 104 in Barney’s River, in which “one worker fell from heights resulting in injuries and was taken to hospital.”
Two stop work orders were issued the same day and were lifted Aug. 24 after an inspection to verify the worksite was safe.
It says it does not typically send out a news release about workplace incidents “unless it is to address matters of public safety.”