Mailman dies two days after fall on ice
VANCOUVER I Canada Post urges property owners to clear ice, snow from walkways
Canada Post is urging residents and business owners to clear their walkways of ice and snow following the death of a letter carrier who died two days after he slipped and hit his head while delivering mail in east Vancouver.
The carrier, identified by Global TV as Bob Jones, worked for Canada Post for 33 years and was planning to retire in April.
Cause of his death is still under investigation, Canada Post spokeswomen Lillian Au, said Friday.
"It is unknown whether the death was related to the fall earlier in the week," she said. The 56-year-old died in hospital late Thursday or early Friday, she said.
Au said he had fallen and hit his head and lower back on Tuesday as he was getting out of his vehicle at a business property in an industrial zone.
Besides asking homeowners and businesses to clear their steps and driveways, Canada Post is encouraging carriers not to deliver to properties they feel are unsafe, Au said.
Due to the snowfall early this week, Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have received numerous reports of letter carriers who have been injured slipping on icy streets and sidewalks.
"This adverse weather we're having is hitting our workers hard," Au said.
Co-workers said Friday Jones was from Canada Post's unit K, stationed at Georgia Street downtown, which delivers mail to the area around Clark Drive, Commercial Drive, and Venables Street.
Ken Mooney, president of the postal workers union Vancouver local 846, said the dead man was a grandfather and a popular employee.
"This is a heartbreaker," Mooney said. "The co-workers are in a terrible state. He was a friend, not just a co-worker."
Mooney said even though they are warned not to deliver to properties with snow-covered walks, "letter carriers are really dedicated to customers.... They put themselves in harm's way."
Au said Jones continued on his route Tuesday after his fall.
After returning to the station, he reported the fall to his supervisor, who advised him to see a doctor.
"But the employee decided against it," Au said.
She added that he returned to work Wednesday and was able to complete his duties. But on Thursday morning, his wife called and said he wasn't feeling well, but was expected to return to work by Friday.
Au said Workers' Compensation Board and Human Resources and Social Development Canada are looking into the death.
She said Canada Post is also urging employees who are injured to have doctors examine them.
On Clark Drive, shopkeepers and office workers said they were shocked to hear a letter carrier in their neighbourhood had died.
Richard Kung, a manager at Fountain Tire, said workers at his business have been regularly removing snow from its driveway during the week. "We have to clear the lot otherwise you can't get in there," he said.
But in other parts of the neighbourhood, many walkways and driveways were still covered in slush and snow Friday.
© The Vancouver Sun 2006
12-02-2006, 08:21 PM
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