Trial of man charged in workplace death in Manotick gets underway at Ottawa courthouse

A criminal trial is underway following the 2023 death of a worker in Manotick, who was electrocuted while trimming hedges. CTV’s Katie Griffin reports.

The trial of a supervisor charged with criminal negligence in the 2023 death of a young worker while hedge-trimming in Manotick began at the Ottawa courthouse Monday.

Nick Chenier was working for Best Green Hedges at the time of his death. The 20-year-old was electrocuted when he hit an overhead hydro line that was buried within the hedge.

Steven Deans, a manager with Best Green Hedges and Chenier’s supervisor, was charged with criminal negligence causing death in April 2024. He has pleaded not guilty.

“Losing a child is the worst thing imaginable. It’s been a really, really tough battle,” said Jennifer Chenier, Nick’s mother. “I’m so grateful for this charge. I’m so grateful for the efforts of the Ottawa police, the Crown attorney, everyone to get us here today.”

The Crown alleges Deans failed to identify or warn Chenier about the danger of the hydro wires and showed a “reckless disregard” for his safety.

“There was no conceivable safe, permissible or legal manner by which Nick could have trimmed the top of that hedge,” Crown attorney Anne Fitzpatrick told the court. “Nick was working perilously in the prohibited distance to the power line that killed him, doing the work he was directed to do by his supervisor...work he never should have been directed to do.”

It was the first time that a specific charge was laid against an employer or supervisor of a company, according to Ottawa and District Labour Council president Sean McKenny.

“It’s significant in respect to showing to employers that they have a responsibility when it comes to the workplace,” McKenny said.

“They must ensure that a worker is working in a safe place and in a place that they feel comfortable and that’s adhering to the Occupational Health and Safety Act.”

In a statement, Deans’s lawyers Mark Ertel and Kirstin Macrae, said while they were limited in what they could say because the matter is before the courts, “we would urge everyone watching this tragic case unfold to keep an open mind until all the evidence is heard. Mr. Deans has pleaded not guilty, and we are confident that he will get a good hearing.”

Deans was supported by a number of people in the gallery.

The trial is expected to last three weeks.

“This is my promise to my son. I want to be an advocate for him to raise a lot of awareness of workplace safety…making sure that everybody’s family members come home at the end of the day safe,” Chenier said.

“That’s what I’m going to bring with me from this and I know that’s something he would want me to do.”

The Ministry of Labour conducted its own investigation and laid five charges against the company, its owner, and Chenier’s supervisor.

In April 2024, the owner of Best Green Hedges, Sheldon Best Green, pleaded guilty to the Ministry of Labour’s charge of failing, as a director, to take all reasonable care to ensure that the corporation complied with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations.

All charges laid by the Ministry of Labour against the company Best Green Hedges were withdrawn given the owner’s guilty plea. The judge imposed a $45,000 fine and with a victim surcharge, the total fine was about $56,000.

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