Two Members Die on Job Sites
Two BAC members recently lost their lives in two tragic, separate job site accidents.
Elaine MacIvor, 29, a third-year apprentice and member
of Local 1 Ontario, fell off a top-floor scaffold onto
a concrete canopy on July 17 at a seniors’ housing
development. According to police, MacIvor was stepping
from a balcony onto the scaffold when she fell. She was
rushed to Hamilton General Hospital, where she never
regained consciousness, and died two days later.
Ontario’s Ministry of Labour and local police
are investigating the accident. News of Sister MacIvor’s
death has been hard on Hamilton’s bricklaying community,
according to Kerry Wilson, Business Manager of Local
1. “I understand everybody on the site was trained
[in fall prevention]” Wilson said, although it
remains unclear whether MacIvor was wearing a safety
harness.
MacIvor began working for Vinmod Construction Ltd. in
June of this year. She had planned to marry her long-time
sweetheart in October.
Local 3 Washington/Idaho member Greg Mackey, 32, a lifelong
resident of Spokane, died August 2, 2002 from injuries
suffered on the job in Royal City, WA. Details of the
accident remain unclear, although it is reported that
his fall was precipitated by a possible blackout caused
by stroke or heart attack. The accident is still under
investigation by Washington State Department of Labor
and Industries.
Mackey joined the Army Reserve in 1987 while attending
West Valley High School. He had worked as a mason since
graduating from high school in 1988, joining his father’s
Local.
Survivors include a son, Curtis Mackey, and a daughter,
Chelsea Mackey, both of Stevensville, Montana; his parents,
James and Janet Mackey of Spokane; his fiancee, Kathy
VanSant of Spokane; a brother, Craig Davis of Carey,
NC; and three sisters, Janell Davis and Jamie Wilke,
both of Spokane, and Lisa Atwood of Lethbridge, Alberta.
Said Tim Thompson, President of Local 3, “The attendance
from contractors, suppliers, laborers, and bricklayers
at Greg’s service was a real show of support from
the masonry community. This tragedy has hit our Local
hard.”
|
