Worker safety sparks changes to repair procedures

A report from the city's auditor has changed how watermain breaks are repaired in Greater Sudbury.

The auditor found that safety standards set out by the province, as well as the city itself, were not always being followed.

The roads department has since made changes to how those repairs are done.

Sudbury city councillor Claude Berthiaume said he is happy to hear that.

"I had an uncle who died in excavation maybe 15 years ago," Berthiaume said. "He was buried alive. So, I know it is important to have situations quite safe for employees. And I think we're all going to be benefitting from these recommendations for years to come."

Mayor Marianne Matichuk said she thinks the city should do a full review of all its safety procedures to protect city employees.

"It should never have gotten to this," she said. "Saving money … should never take away from saving a life."

Before entering politics, Matichuk was a health and safety officer at Vale, and held the same role at the city before that.

She said she doesn't think Greater Sudbury has ever had an outside auditor review what the city does to keep workers safe.