Workers in Calgary advocate for safety reform after man dies in trench collapse

The battalion chief said that there was no trench box in place initially, so crews had to place one before they could safely enter the trench.

Workers in Calgary are advocating for workplace safety reforms after a man died in a trench collapse on Thursday.

Carol Henke, fire department spokesperson, confirmed to Global News that emergency crews were called to the 2600 block of 34th Avenue N.W., in the community of Charleswood, at around 10:45 a.m. Thursday for reports a trench had collapsed.

The battalion chief said that there was no trench box in place initially, so crews had to place one before they could safely enter the trench.

Liam Johnston, 27, was pronounced dead at the scene. Johnston was working for Mr. Mike’s Plumbing at the time of the incident.

Jon Malley, a former apprentice plumber with Mr. Mike’s, told Global News he requested a trench box from management last March.

“I had a meeting with the management and I told them it’s a matter of time before somebody gets killed,” Malley said.

“I knew Liam. We became apprentices together. He was a stand-up guy. ”

In an earlier statement, the company said safety is its top priority and said it’s working with authorities to understand the circumstances of the incident to ensure the appropriate measures are taken to prevent any future incidents.