One of the workers injured in the explosion at a Beauceville factory was discharged from the hospital and returned to the scene of the tragedy.
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The man, who had been hospitalized since the explosion of September 20, presented himself at the Bois Ouvré factory last Friday.
He was able to speak with his boss, Nicholas Drouin, who was on site to answer questions from Sûreté du Québec investigators.
“He’s a long-time employee. I was happy to see him, he looked in good shape despite the events, ”reports the co-owner of the Matra group, which owns the factory where the tragedy took place, a week ago to the day. .
Five other employees of Mr. Drouin were taken to the emergency room following the explosion. One was discharged from the hospital the same day, another is still in a coma, but is out of danger. “We hear from the family on a daily basis. It is mainly injuries to the arm that he has, ”explains Mr. Drouin.
Three other employees of Bois Ouvré died. Nicholas Drouin knew these long-time employees well, for whom he had nothing but kind words. “The three of them weren’t telling me ‘you’, it was ‘Nicholas’ and we were talking to each other. We made challenges together, we had fun, ”he recalls.
Back to work
The SQ and the CNESST recently completed their investigations on the plant site. If Matra was able to regain possession of the building, it is difficult for the company to decide what to do next. The priority remains the well-being of the fifty or so employees, says Mr. Drouin.
Some of them have also returned to work, in other factories of the Matra group. “There are people who want to work to change their minds. We offer work to everyone who wants to work. But we made it clear to them: take your time, go at your own pace, experience what you have to live, ”he insists.
Nicholas Drouin could not, moreover, advance precisely on the causes and circumstances of the event. “I’ve been doing this for 21 years, I’ve never seen anything like it. I cannot explain to myself what exactly happened. I have no idea. But I can’t wait to get the report, honestly, ”he concludes.
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