Union helps millwright’s wife in her quest for justice after death in Slave La i IWA-CANADA members are no strangers when it comes to being ex- posed to serious injury and death in the workplace. Throughout the union’s history the struggle for a safe and healthy workplace has always been in the forefront. Death and injury in the workplace is a too frequent occurrence in both the unionized and non-unionized work world. After a serious or fatal acci- dent occurs, the fight for a just inves- tigation may occur. Such has been the case following the death of Marvin Arneson, a 52 year old millwright who was instantly killed at the Slave Lake Pulp Corpora- tion mill in Slave Lake, Alberta. The accident, which occurred on June 10, 1993 happened when Arneson and fel- low workers were repairing a boom on the mill’s log deck. The men had been using a Broder- son crane to do the job. However that crane had been stuck in the mud due pomheavy rains and became unavail- able. Too many questions remain unanswered concerning Marvin Ameson’s death as the government's in- vestigation is consid- ered a whitewash When the crew that Marvin was working on come back after a coffee break the woodroom foreman had summoned a Komatsu Butt-n-Top log loader to do the job. When the log loader lifted the boom, its grapple cut a nylon sling holding up the boom. The boom fell and Marvin was crushed beyond recognition. Since that horrible day his wife, Gale Arneson, and their two sons, have been on a quest for a proper in- vestigation of the events leading up to the accident and for prosecution of those responsible for her husband’s death. Ms. Arneson’s struggle for justice has often been a lonely and frustrating experience. For her the results of a government investigation of the acci- dent at the government owned Crown corporation are an unacceptable whitewash. For over 29 years Marvin was a skilled and dedicated worker who knew the bounds of safety. He was a journeyman millwright and crane op- erator and was a machinist as well. He worked for 26 years at the Macmillan Bloedel Aspenite mill in Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan where he was a member of IWA-CANADA Local 1-184. In July of 1990 he landed a job in Slave Lake at the pulp mill. From the time of his tragic death, there has been nothing but frustration on the part of Gale and her family who have run up against brick walls in the investigation of Marvin's death. At several points she has been de- spondent and fortunately she was able to make contact with IWA-CANA- DA to receive assistance in her quest for justice. IWA-CANADA first vice-president Neil Menard, who originates from Saskatchewan, was contacted by Gale who needed help in her family’s lonely search for answers. Brother Menard and the union responded by hiring oc- cupational health and safety consul- tant Susan Ruffo to assist the Arneson family. As the National Officer responsible for health and safety issues, Brother Menard has seen this kind of scenario before. The investigation into Marvin’s death was inefficient and inappropri- ate. “Marvin’s death was absolutely senseless,” says Menard. “The carnage in the forest industry in both union and non-union workplace is complete- ly unacceptable.” “Gale Arneson is showing alot of courage by taking the case of her hus- band as far as it can go,” says Menard. “She is proving that people do not have to accept official versions of ac- cident investigations and inquiries. They don’t always tell the truth.” There are many questions surround- ing the death of Marvin Arneson that need to be answered. Why didn’t Slave Lake hire a proper crane for the job at the boom? Why was there no certified crane operator on the job? Who authorized the use of the Ko- matsu log loader? Difficult life Continued from page ten steady work. Fortunately the Disabili- ty Management committee at Somass Division has hired him on to help out in a data collection program which will analyze the jobs in the mill and break them down into their physical components. ‘ Being a disabled worker himself gives Brother Bakken an understand- ing perspective on the plight of the disabled. a He started full-time at Somass Divi- sion in 1987, after having worked with the company both part and full-time from 1977-81. He worked through un- til 1991 until an unusual knee condi- tion made it impossible to carry on. He has got severe pains in the ten- don areas of the knee due to the fact that his bones in that area have not healed fully. In a teenager it is know as Osgood Schlatter’s disease but they don’t know what to call it for some- body in their 20's or 30's. The bottom line for Mark is that he couldn’t continue work and had to get assistance somehow. In June of 1991 he went on weekly wage indemnity insurance. When that ran out in a year’s time he wound up on the IWA-Forest Industry LTD plan. Fortunately with the LTD plan he was able to take some computers and accounting courses. He has also pur- sued business courses through the province’s Open Learning Agency. Later he returned to MB and even- tually became disabled again. After collecting $9,000 from weekly indem- nity, he was told he had to pay it back because he did not meet their eligibili- ty requirements. He does not want welfare or to be stuck on some uncertain insurance program that will never keep up with the standard of living. “It would make me happier if I could do a job that would be produc- tive and secure,” he says. “It’s not a good feeling when you are sitting on the sidelines with an illness and you can’t do a thing. It’s much better if you can get a job and take pride and accomplish something.” That is exactly want the disabled want. = ke, Alberta ¢ Former IWA Local 1-184 member Marvin Arneson, killed on June 10, 1993, was a skilled and conscientious worker. His wife is seeking justice following his needless death. Whey did it take several hours to take the boom off of Marvin’s body? These are all questions that Gale has asked of government and compa- ny officials. In a letter to the Alberta Energy Corporation’s President of Forest Products, she asked the com- pany about their safe work proce- dures including the question - why were the workers not warned about using the piece of equipment? Following a report delivered by the Regional Supervisor of Occupational Health and Safety delivered in late Au- gust of 1993, there were no sanctions placed against the Slave Lake Pulp Corporation. In her personal investigation, Gale charges that Slave Lake Pulp violated sections of the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, by allowing the log loader to be used in a critical lift situation. As if apparent negligence in the death of Marvin Arneson wasn’t in- sulting enough, the company showed extreme disrespect by continuing pro- duction with out stopping. Gale wrote the President of the AEC to ask him. On the day that her husband was killed, why was the mill not shut down in respect for the death of a co- worker? Is human life meaningless and the costs of maintaining produc- tion more important for the company? In a letter to the Regional Supervi- sor of Alberta Occupational Health and Safety she wrote: “We have had time to reflect on the AHOS fatality report and we feel that it is a very bi- ased report in favour of the Slave Lake Pulp Corporation. Your officers seem to have whitewashed the severi- ty of their own compliance orders.” In time Gale’s bereavement turned into anger. In a series of articles she wrote for the Alberta Federation of Labour’s newspaper she expressed that anger. “Marvin L. Arneson’s reputation as a competent tradesman had been tar- nished in favour of leniency towards (the) Slave Lake Corporation.” She also took a shot directly at the Alberta Occupational Health and Safe- ty Department. Continued on page fifteen Lee el LUMBERWORKERJUNE, 1994/13