Irving Shipbuilding faces charges of safety violations in Halifax worker’s 2024 death

CITYnews halifax / By The Canadian Press

Irving Shipbuilding is scheduled to enter a plea Oct. 1 on charges of violating workplace safety rules after an employee died last year at its Halifax site.

A lawyer for the family-owned company appeared in provincial court on Monday for arraignment on five counts of violating the Occupational Health and Safety Act on Feb. 19, 2024.

Jamie Knight died that day after he was struck by a piece of equipment during snow removal operations at the yard.

The Labour Department is alleging the company failed to create a safe work plan and a risk assessment for snow removal.

It also alleges Irving did not ensure the snow removal equipment was used according to the manufacturer’s specifications, and failed to appoint a person to direct the machine’s movements.

In addition, the department alleges the company failed to ensure there was a risk assessment for hazards that workers could potentially encounter in the space between their work stations and the designated smoking area.

Irving is building the Royal Canadian Navy’s new fleet at the company’s Halifax shipyard, with the next stage being construction of the River-class destroyers.

The company has about 2,400 employees. A spokeswoman for the shipyard said the death last year was “a tragedy that deeply saddened the Irving Shipbuilding community.”

“Health and safety is a core value of Irving Shipbuilding and the company has complied with relevant laws, regulations, and the investigation relating to this incident,” Mel Schori wrote in an email. “We will not be commenting further on the legal proceedings at this stage.”

She noted that on April 28 of each year the company joins organizations across Canada in acknowledging a National Day of Mourning for workers who have died, been injured or become ill as a result of their jobs.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 8, 2025.