April 6, 2010 – A fatal accident last week is a tragic reminder of the importance of proper stockpile procedures.

The Ottawa Citizen reported that a 26-year-old man was killed in an industrial accident near Manotick. “Firefighters, police and paramedics were called to Green Valley Environmental Services at 6107 1st Line Rd. at about 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

"We got information that there was a man operating machinery when rocks fell on to him. He was declared deceased when we arrived," said Ottawa paramedic spokesman J.P. Trottier.

Emergency personnel could be seen taking pictures of the scene — a gravel pile estimated by emergency officials at about 12 metres high with an (orange) excavator about half that height beside it partially covered in gravel.

Police said the man was working on the excavator and loading a dump truck when the accident happened. Police said he was (scooping) excavating gravel from the bottom of the pile when the top portion of the pile fell on to him. The man died when the cab of the excavator was "completely crushed," said Trottier.

Firefighters were able to pull the excavator out from under the gravel about two and a half hours after the accident and used extrication equipment to retrieve the body.”