Lake Manitoba First Nation family seeking answers to son’s workplace death

APTN News
The family of a 22-year-old man who died while working on a hydro project in northern Manitoba feel there are a lack of safety precautions on site.

But they say no one is giving them the answers they need.

Todd Maytwayashing, of Lake Manitoba First Nation, had been working at a hydro storage yard approximately 800 kilometres north of Winnipeg at the time of his death. Maytwayashing was working for Forbes Bros., a contracting company employed by Manitoba Hydro to build a transmission line from the Keeyask generating station to a nearby station.

Barry Swan, Maytwayashing’s father, said his son was helping load steel beams onto a semi-truck when one of the beams fell and landed on his head.
That was Jan. 17 – and the family has yet to hear from Manitoba Hydro.

“It will be 7 weeks tomorrow and not one call from Manitoba Hydro to say we’re sorry,” Swan said. “That’s a real sad thing.”

After visiting the site where his son died, Barry says he was left with some serious concerns about safety.

“I went to right to the trailer there of what they were loading,” he said. “I could see some severe irregularities with me just visualizing the scene of what happened.”

Swan says Forbes told the family that all safety protocols were followed but he believes otherwise.

Manitoba Hydro told APTN there is little they can do for the family because Maytwayashing was not their employee. The province’s workplace health and safety is investigating with no end date in sight, but the family says they need answers now.

Forbes has conducted its own investigation. APTN has asked the company for comment but has yet to hear back.

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6 thoughts on “Lake Manitoba First Nation family seeking answers to son’s workplace death

  1. All we want is safety to be implemented so no one ever gets a life changing call. Safety was not followed and there was hydro workers in the (hydro) yard loading the truck. Now hydro and Forbes don’t want to take responsibility! So who is responsible? Need help with this!

  2. All we want is safety to be implemented so no one ever gets a life changing call. Safety was not followed and there was hydro workers in the (hydro) yard loading the truck. Now hydro and Forbes don’t want to take responsibility! So who is responsible? Need help with this!

  3. It is obvious that if proper procedures were being followed it would have been impossible for this death to have occurred. It can not be called an accident due to the negligence associated with this crime. Tag lines are required whenever rigging for lifts. End of discussion. I believe Hydro is still responsible for it’s contractors.
    When is the company going to be charged? This is a question for: Hydro? WorkSafe? Federal and Provincial Governments? Keep the kids safe!

  4. It is obvious that if proper procedures were being followed it would have been impossible for this death to have occurred. It can not be called an accident due to the negligence associated with this crime. Tag lines are required whenever rigging for lifts. End of discussion. I believe Hydro is still responsible for it’s contractors.
    When is the company going to be charged? This is a question for: Hydro? WorkSafe? Federal and Provincial Governments? Keep the kids safe!

  5. Todd was a great man to work with out at the treherne camp.

    Forbes has a history of workplace accidents that is becoming extensive and indcludes more then one death in the past year.

    Serious investigations need to be taking place as I can personally testify to the lack of safety measures in place.

  6. Todd was a great man to work with out at the treherne camp.

    Forbes has a history of workplace accidents that is becoming extensive and indcludes more then one death in the past year.

    Serious investigations need to be taking place as I can personally testify to the lack of safety measures in place.

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