Employer charged after teen's death pleads guilty to safety violation

A forestry company in northern New Brunswick charged after the death of a 17-year-old employee has pleaded guilty to violating workplace safety legislation.

Wanny Pelletier died in the Edmundston hospital in December 2016, fourdays after a work accident where he became stuck under a conveyor at a Saint-Quentin plant.

• 17-year-old boy dies after being injured at Saint-Quentin plant

The Savoie Group the town's largest employer, was in Campbellton provincial court Monday to respond to charges laid under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Two charges were laid last Decemberafter an investigation into Pelletier's death by WorkSafeNB andthe RCMP.

The company pleaded guilty to failing to provide the necessary supervision ofPelletier. A second charge of failing to ensure a machine was used according to themanufacturer's instructions was withdrawn.

Pelletier's death rocked the small community an hour east of Edmundston. The high school student was cleaning at the pellet plant when his leg was caught in the conveyor, WorkSafeNB said.

The case will be back in Campbelltoncourt on Feb. 12, when the SavoieGroup will be sentenced.

Pelletier's mother is also suing the company for negligence, a lawsuit she launched a few days after WorkSafeNB laid charges.