SMS Equipment Ltd., a contractor at Canada’s Gahcho Kue diamond mine, has been fined CAD $200,000 (approximately US $145,000) following the tragic death of 27-year-old Max Paczulla. Mr. Paczulla was fatally injured in September 2022 while inspecting and testing the ladder hydraulics of a boarding ladder for a Komatsu 830E haul truck. He became pinned between the ladder rail and part of the truck, succumbing to his injuries later.
Appearing before a territorial court in the Northwest Territories, SMS Equipment Ltd. pleaded guilty to a violation under the Northwest Territories’ Safety Act. According to court documents, Mr. Paczulla suffered fatal injuries to his head and neck area due to being caught between the ladder rail and the truck guardrail toe plate.
The Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission, a governmental agency, stated that there were no hazard recognition or warning signs alerting workers to the pinch point. SMS Equipment Ltd. also failed to conduct its own workplace safety inspection of the haul truck.
In response to the incident, De Beers, the mine’s owner, has taken steps to enhance safety measures by installing protective screens on the haul ladders and posting hazard warning signs.
