The J Cote and Sons Excavating... Workplace Death. A Trench Collapse
Over 1000 Canadian workers are killed every year. Pipelayer Jeff Caron was killed in a trench collapse on October 11 2012. He was 28 years old. A co-worker, Thomas Richer was badly injured in the very same cave-in. The trial against the company, J Cote Ecxavating of Langley BC and foreman David Green did not take place until 12 years had passed. 12 nightmarish years for the family of Jeff Caron. The points I want to discuss here are... 1. Darn near every trench collapse death and injury is preventable. Making good decisions, spending the time and money to ensure worker safety will prevent ugly and traumatic deaths and injuries on construction work sites.   2. At the December 2025 trial, judge Brundett found three senior officers of J Cote and Sons Excavating, guilty in the the 2012 death of Jeff Caron. Jobsite foreman David Green was found not guilty of separate charges of manslaughter and criminal negligence. I di...