Two deaths at Quebec construction sites were preventable, says safety board

The logo of the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) photographed on February 22, 2024 in Laval. (Ryan Remiorz / The Canadian Press)

The deaths of two construction site workers were preventable, according to a report published by The Quebec workers’ health and safety board (CNESST).

A construction site flagger and a road flagger were both struck by heavy vehicles while at work last year.

The construction site flagger died on April 4 in Drummondville after being struck by the trailer of a tractor-trailer that was backing up.

The road flagger died on July 17 in Saint-Calixte when a grader operator manoeuvred forward while the worker was in his blind spot.

In the case of the construction site flagger, the CNESST noted there was insufficient site access planning.

It also said the construction site flagger had to manage and control road user traffic, even though he had no training as a road flagger.

For the road flagger, the CNESST concluded that there was inadequate management of road user and construction vehicle traffic.

It emphasized that the death could have been prevented if traffic and road signage plans that complied with regulations had been prepared and implemented.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French Feb. 12, 2026.