Sister of victim who died in workplace calls liaison hiring ‘fully for optics’

Nicole Gnazdowsky lost her brother, Andrew, on Oct. 16, 2020 while he was at work surveying for Nova Scotia Power

HALIFAXtoday\ Stephen Wentzell

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The sister of a man who died in a workplace accident is renewing her calls to demand accountability and justice for his death.

Nicole Gnazdowsky lost her brother, Andrew, on Oct. 16, 2020 while he was at work surveying for Nova Scotia Power.

She tells NEWS 95.7’s The Todd Veinotte Show she believes the Department of Labour has since “covered up” what she describes as a poor investigation into Andrew’s death.

While Gnazdowsky continues to look for answers, the province announced last week the department plans to create a full-time liaison position to assist in communicating with the loved ones of victims when workplace deaths occur.

The news is welcoming, but not promising to Gnazdowsky, who noted that while there have been as few as two workplaces deaths in the province’s records, the number jumped to 18 in 2020.

“For months after my brother died,” Gnazdowsky explained, “we really had no idea if anybody was even looking at his situation.”

Gnazdowsky added that while a liaison may prove to be helpful, they won’t be able to address the rising number of workplaces deaths in Nova Scotia, suggesting the move is for optics only.

Nicole Gnazdowsky formerly worked as a producer at NEWS 95.7, a partner of HalifaxToday.ca.