A family is grieving after a Nanaimo man died at a work site at a water treatment construction project in Parksville this week.
Joe Hermann, 40, had gotten engaged just two days before Monday鈥檚 accident, said his father, Georg Hermann.
鈥淗e came over on Sunday; he showed me and my wife a ring and everything. He was so ecstatic,鈥� Georg said. 鈥淎nd then the next day at 3:30 [p.m.] I got two RCMP officers come to my door. Jesus. I would never want to wish this even to my worst enemy.鈥�
He said his son had just started his new job six or seven weeks earlier and really liked his new boss.
鈥淗e loved driving trucks,鈥� Georg said, adding that Joe started working his first job at 13 years old and later spent years working in the oil fields in northern Alberta and then driving a fuel truck before beginning his new job.
Jason Hermann said he鈥檚 been told that his brother was helping another worker load trusses and said one of the trusses fell over on top of Joe, killing him instantly.
Jason said he鈥檚 a safety officer at his own job and one of the first to respond in the event of a workplace accident.
鈥淚 get it. I get these things happen, but they are preventable,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what they had as far as hazard assessments before they do certain jobs, but I guess that鈥檚 for WCB to figure out and investigate. It鈥檚 an unfortunate, freak accident and there鈥檚 nothing you can do about it, really. I don鈥檛 put any blame on anyone.鈥�
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WorkSafe B.C. released a statement that it had been contacted by RCMP a little after 12:30 p.m. Monday about the incident at a construction site at 1082 Herring Gull Way in the Parksville industrial park. B.C. Coroners Service is investigating and the City of Parksville sent out a news release expressing condolences.
Joe had no children and had been in the process of a divorce. A real sports fan, he had recently ordered a Team Germany soccer jersey and had been looking forward to the upcoming World Cup.
鈥淧eople are fragile,鈥� Georg Hermann said. 鈥淵ou never know what you鈥檝e got.鈥�
editor@nanaimobulletin.com
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