Flags at the J.D. Irving sawmill in Sussex were flying at half-mast Thursday following the workplace death of 52-year-old William Gregg. The 26-year employee died after being injured on the job Monday.
The death has shaken an already fragile town and now questions are being raised about what happened.
READ MORE: Worker dies as result of head injury at J.D. Irving sawmill in Sussex
Gregg’s wife, Janet, has been quoted as saying her husband was working overtime following a 12- hour shift when the incident occurred. WorkSafeNB, the government agency that oversees occupational health and safety, said the accident took place around 1:10 p.m. on Monday, which would mean Gregg had been on the job for about 17 hours.
J.D. Irving spokesperson Mary Keith did not comment directly on the issue of work hours, but said in a statement that details are “very limited”.
“Mr. Gregg was seen by his co-workers just prior to the accident and at this time there is no obvious or apparent cause of the accident,” she said.
Both J.D. Irving and WorkSafeNB are investigating.
In the community, condolences are going to members of Gregg’s family.
- Small grocers, co-ops receiving boost from Loblaw boycott: ‘A lot of anger’
- B.C. man losing vision needs to find home for treasured book collection
- U.K. bans generic passwords over cybersecurity concerns. Should Canada be next?
- More foreign interference action coming after inquiry report, India arrests: LeBlanc
“It’s sad, he’s a young man,” resident Vanessa Dunn said, adding the death was a shock. “He had a lot of life left. I know his brother and his sister work for my stepfather over in Newtown.”
Resident Anita Barrie, who said she knows Gregg’s wife and one of his daughters, said there will be “one day where they can think back upon him and the memories won’t hurt so much.”
There has been a lot of hurt in Sussex over the past few months with the closure of a local potash mine and a large fire at a farming equipment business. The community, however, remains tight-knit.
“We love each other, even though we may not know each other’s names, but still we can grow strong together,” Barrie said. “I love Sussex, and I know that we have each other’s backs.”
J.D.Irving says the sawmill will be closed Friday when a celebration of Gregg’s life will be held at the Wallace Community Chapel.
Comments