Friends and loved ones are devastated by the tragic death of a young man from Calgary. His passing has left many people in disbelief and struggling to comprehend the incident. Jeff Cho, a vibrant and unique individual, lost his life in a workplace accident on September 19 at the LX Hausys Warehouse in northeast Calgary. Messages of tribute and fond memories have been flooding in for Cho, with one person expressing that karaoke nights will never be the same without him. Another friend described Cho as indescribable, someone who had to be experienced to truly understand his warmth and depth of character. It is disheartening for those who knew him that others will not have the chance to know Cho and his remarkable qualities. They seek answers to understand what went so terribly wrong that day.
Cho’s devastating accident occurred when he was crushed by a massive slab of marble while working in the warehouse yard. Upon hearing of his tragic passing, two former employees of LX Hausys reached out to Global News, sharing their experiences and concerns. Sunny Sandhu, who was fired without explanation in July, and Mario Mareno, who was terminated on September 1, revealed that they had witnessed and documented numerous safety violations at the workplace. These violations included a lack of proper protective equipment and insufficient certification for employees working with or near heavy machinery. Both Sandhu and Mareno had developed a good relationship with Cho and expressed their sorrow over his untimely death. Mareno even admitted to having warned his superiors about his concerns regarding Cho’s training.
In an email exchange between an HR manager and a supervisor, dated July 13, it was noted that Mareno was to remain employed at the warehouse until Cho became more accustomed to his work. The supervisor had estimated that it would take Cho about a month to adjust to the job. Mareno, however, had a hunch that something terrible would happen due to the lack of training provided to new employees. He believed that it typically took six to eight months to adequately train for the job, reinforcing Sandhu’s concerns about the overall lack of training at the warehouse.
Mareno had captured cellphone video footage that he believed showcased an excessive number of marble slabs stacked on A-frame pallets. According to former employees, each slab weighed hundreds of pounds. Additionally, another video taken inside the warehouse revealed stacks of products that exceeded the suggested height limits outlined by one of the former workers. The evidence provided by these videos shed light on the unsafe practices that were prevalent in the workplace. Furthermore, the two former employees shared two additional videos showcasing a supervisor walking around the warehouse and yard near a forklift while wearing flip-flops, a clear violation of safety regulations.
Sandhu expressed his disbelief at witnessing such a disregard for safety regulations, stating that flip-flops were strictly prohibited in the warehouse setting. Cho’s friends confirmed that he had also expressed concerns about the safety practices at the company before his untimely death. It was clear to them that LX Hausys was hiring untrained individuals who were not being adequately prepared for their roles. In an email to Global News, Tenzen Kalden stated that Cho had raised concerns about the lack of training and the employment of untrained workers. These revelations underline the importance of a strong workplace safety culture and highlight the potential negligence of the company in ensuring the well-being of its employees.
Dean Wihnan, a safety scientist with Intactix, commented on the situation, stating that while protective equipment plays a vital role in ensuring safety, it would not have been sufficient to prevent the catastrophic injuries suffered by Cho. However, he emphasized that the lack of adherence to safety protocols, such as wearing proper footwear and enforcing the use of safety vests or helmets, speaks to the overall safety culture within the organization. Wihnan explained that most organizations have policies in place regarding personal protective equipment, and if these policies are not being followed or enforced by management, it points to a systemic issue within the company. He also highlighted that many workplace fatalities and injuries meet the criteria for a criminal investigation; however, such investigations are rarely conducted. Wihnan suggested that Cho’s case may involve elements of criminal negligence, which should prompt the Calgary Police Service to collaborate with Occupational Health and Safety for a thorough investigation into the incident.
Global News has made attempts to reach out to LX Hausys for comment, both through email and in person. However, the company has not yet addressed any of the allegations concerning the lack of safety protocols. Instead, they have emphasized that their current priorities are the well-being of their employees, Jeff Cho’s grieving family, and the ongoing Occupational Health and Safety investigation.