2 Jamaican Farm Workers die in Canada

[SistahD]

Don't know if anyone posted this yet.... my prayers go out to the families and friends.


<span style="font-size: 11pt">Jamaican farm workers die in Canada</span>

Liaison service dubs incident 'work-related accident'

Jamaica Observer

Saturday, September 11, 2010






TWO Jamaican farm workers lost their lives on a farm in Ontario, Canada yesterday.

Chief Liaison Officer in the Jamaica Liaison Service (JLS) in Toronto, Larkland Stone, would only describe it as a 'job-related accident' on the Filsinger Farm in Ontario.

He said the identities of the victims were being withheld, until officials from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in Jamaica can notify their next of kin.

Stone said the Canadian Ministry of Labour and police are investigating and the bodies have been removed to the morgue for autopsies to be conducted.

Jamaica’s Consul General to Toronto, Seth George Ramocan, expressed shock at the sudden death of the Jamaican workers.

“We are very saddened by the untimely loss of our two Jamaican men. Our hearts go out to the families,” he said.

The Jamaican Farm Work Programme began in Canada in 1964, and this year more than 6,000 Jamaicans were employed on over 300 Canadian farms.



source - JA Observer

[X]

Re: 2 Jamaican Farm Workers die in Canada

whats the &quot;job related incident&quot; ??
Thats like saying Rock Hudson died from a baty related incident.


Typical non-investigative reporting by so called Jamaica &quot;observer&quot;




<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SistahD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Don't know if anyone posted this yet.... my prayers go out to the families and friends.


<span style="font-size: 11pt">Jamaican farm workers die in Canada</span>

Liaison service dubs incident 'work-related accident'

Jamaica Observer

Saturday, September 11, 2010






TWO Jamaican farm workers lost their lives on a farm in Ontario, Canada yesterday.

Chief Liaison Officer in the Jamaica Liaison Service (JLS) in Toronto, Larkland Stone, would only describe it as a 'job-related accident' on the Filsinger Farm in Ontario.

He said the identities of the victims were being withheld, until officials from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in Jamaica can notify their next of kin.

Stone said the Canadian Ministry of Labour and police are investigating and the bodies have been removed to the morgue for autopsies to be conducted.

Jamaica’s Consul General to Toronto, Seth George Ramocan, expressed shock at the sudden death of the Jamaican workers.

“We are very saddened by the untimely loss of our two Jamaican men. Our hearts go out to the families,” he said.

The Jamaican Farm Work Programme began in Canada in 1964, and this year more than 6,000 Jamaicans were employed on over 300 Canadian farms.



source - JA Observer </div></div>

[Q3210]

Re: 2 Jamaican Farm Workers die in Canada

The summer of 1992 I think it was, a Jamaican farm worker got hit by a motorist whilst walking on a secondary road in one of the many south Ontario farms. Nothing further was heard. Could this have been a farm related accident?

[Emperah]

Re: 2 Jamaican Farm Workers die in Canada

nuff a dem get lick down pan dem bike roun here tuh.

[Peasie]

Re: 2 Jamaican Farm Workers die in Canada

Migrant farm workers need to unite for better job safety. The story is put in a press release from the Food Workers union in Canada.

&quot;For more than two decades UFCW Canada has led the campaign for improved safety and workplace rights for migrant and domestic farm workers. UFCW Canada, in association with the AWA [Agriculture Workers Alliance], operates ten agriculture worker support centres across Canada, including centres in Leamington, Simcoe, Virgil and Bradford, Ontario.&quot;

here

[Q3210]

Re: 2 Jamaican Farm Workers die in Canada

Helmets and hard boots?
How about educating natives not to accidently kill Jamaican farm workers.

[X]

Re: 2 Jamaican Farm Workers die in Canada

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Q3210</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Helmets and hard boots?
How about educating natives not to accidently kill Jamaican farm workers. </div></div>


&quot;accidentally&quot;
exactly.
The half has not been told...

Shame on Jamaica &quot;Liason&quot; Service,
Shame of the Consulate
Shame on the Min of Labour
Shame on us..

[SistahD]

Re: 2 Jamaican Farm Workers die in Canada

Toxic fumes may have caused Jamaican farm workers' deaths
2010-09-12 18:52:03 | (0 Comments)



Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles says that the inhalation of highly toxic fumes might have caused the deaths of two Jamaican farm workers at the Filsinger Farm in the Owen Sound area of Toronto Canada on Friday.

Charles has expressed sympathies to the family of the men.

He also says the government has instructed the Liason Service in Canada to offer legal support, as well as institute an immediate investigation into the incident.

The two workers have so far been identified as Ralston White, from a Manchester address, and Paul Roach, who resided in Clarendon.

The labour minister disclosed that an official statement will be made on the issue, as soon as the autopsies are completed.

In the meantime, Charles says it is believed that the two workers who died were part of a trio tasked to man a machine, which emanated the deadly fumes.

It is believed that one of the men was in the process of rescuing his other co-worker, who was overcome by the fumes, when the two of them succumbed to the toxic.

The third worker who went to get help was spared.

source Go Jamaica

[SistahD]

Re: 2 Jamaican Farm Workers die in Canada

Hopefully the Union can assist the families in attaining some compensation (although it certainly doesn't replace their loved ones) and better conditions for others to prevent this from happening again. This tragic loss of life falls under the provincial Health &amp; Safety Act.... which should hold the employer liable.


Sep 12, 2010 14:40 ETMigrant worker fatalities at Ontario farm under investigation
Deaths of two Jamaican seasonal workers at Ontario agriculture operation was “job-related” says Jamaican official

Attention: Agriculture Editor, City Editor, Food/Beverage Editor, News Editor, Government/Political Affairs Editor

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 12, 2010) -

The cause of death of two Jamaican migrant agriculture workers who died Friday, September 10, at a central Ontario farm is still under investigation. The chief liaison officer in the Jamaica Liaison Service (JLS) in Toronto would only describe it as a &quot;job-related accident&quot;.

The two men, aged 36 and 44, were working at the Filsinger's Organic Foods apple orchard and processing facility in Ayton, Ontario - about 70 kilometers south of Own Sound. Their bodies were transferred to a hospital morgue in Hanover, Ontario awaiting an autopsy.

Provincial police and the Ontario Ministry of Labour are conducting an investigation. The names of the victims have not been released.

&quot;We are saddened by the death of these two men, and our sincere condolences go out their families,&quot; said Wayne Hanley, the National President of UFCW Canada, and the Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA).

For more than two decades UFCW Canada has led the campaign for improved safety and workplace rights for migrant and domestic farm workers. UFCW Canada, in association with the AWA, operates ten agriculture worker support centres across Canada, including centres in Leamington, Simcoe, Virgil and Bradford, Ontario.

&quot;The deaths of the two workers in Ayton is a tragic reminder of the dangers and risks in involved in the agriculture sector,&quot; said Hanley, the leader of Canada's largest private-sector union.

&quot;Certainly what happened has to be investigated, but at the same time the Ministry of Labour must also take a more proactive role - with stepped up inspections and increased regulations - to reduce and prevent farm place fatalities and accidents.&quot;

Jamaican migrant agriculture workers have worked each season in Canada since 1964. This season more than 6,000 Jamaican migrants were employed on over 300 Canadian farms.


/For further information:
www.ufcw.ca
www.awa-atc.ca/

[X]

Re: 2 Jamaican Farm Workers die in Canada

the &quot;mystery&quot; remains.
The more I read the &quot;news&quot; article, the less information there seems to be about this &quot;work place related &quot; death.
What happended? did they trip on a shoelace? choked on a pretzel? died from exposure to Bubba's bodily gas?
how difficult is it to say what happen?
What exacly is the &quot;Workplace related accident&quot; ?

Any bets that if a stray Dog had wandered onto a Farm, got trapped under a machine, we would know EXACTLY how that dog died. The incident would have been well documented and published and the Owners of the farm would have needed by to to explain what mitigating actions will be taken to prvent a reoccurance WHILE paying a lofty compensation to whoever claims ownership of the stray..

[RichD]

Re: 2 Jamaican Farm Workers die in Canada

ethylene gas poisoning?

[sagal]

Re: 2 Jamaican Farm Workers die in Canada

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pleXxed</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Q3210</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Helmets and hard boots?
How about educating natives not to accidently kill Jamaican farm workers. </div></div>


&quot;accidentally&quot;
exactly.
The half has not been told...

Shame on Jamaica &quot;Liason&quot; Service,
Shame of the Consulate
Shame on the Min of Labour
Shame on us..
</div></div>

Shame on the Government of Canada for not even following up on the safety and wellbeing of foreign workers

[Wahalla]

Re: 2 Jamaican Farm Workers die in Canada

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RichD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">ethylene gas poisoning? </div></div>

used to ripen fruit.. I thought they could not use that method on organic fruit...

I am sorry to hear this.. what is the rate of accidents among farm workers ? is it higher among Jamaocans ? is it different with any migrant group ??? This is personall as I never qualified for farm labour thirty odd years ago.....

I have learnt that compared to the oil industry the agricultural industry rate of accidents is phenonmially higher.... Farming is dangerous buisness, you use dangerous tools handle poisions and work long repetitive jobs....all a receipe for accidents... Note raise the price paid to farmers at the farm gate and this will improve...as well as forcing them to invest throug tax breaks...