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Grand Prix race organizers blamed for volunteer’s death

MONTREAL – Quebec’s workplace health and safety board (CSST) released the findings of its investigation into the death of a volunteer during the Grand Prix weekend in Montreal in June.

The Grand Prix race organizers were told Wednesday that they compromised the safety of workers and can expect a fine between $15,698 and $62,790.

The track marshal, 38-year-old Mark Robinson, died after he was crushed under the wheel of a crane on June 9, 2013 while escorting a hoisted a race car that had just hit a wall.

READ MORE: Worker dies in accident after Canadian Grand Prix

The 10-year Formula One veteran volunteer was in charge of making sure the car stayed immobile during transit.

In order to do this, the back of the car was attached to the crane with a rope, while Robinson held the other end and ran ahead of the heavy vehicle.

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WATCH: Grand Prix death investigation

The findings of the CSST have placed the blame squarely on the organizers of the race: Groupe de la course Octane and the Automobile Club of l’Île Notre-Dâme.

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“The cause of the accident, among several reasons, was a dangerous method of transportation and poor health and safety management,” the agency noted in its report.

Calling the way the race car was moved from the track to the pit area “dangerous,” the CSST has ordered the organizers to sort out a better way to manage this in future.

It also said that Grand Prix volunteers and workers should be better trained, especially those working with forklifts and heavy equipment.

READ: The full report (in French)

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