Fatal Cold Stress Incident in Landscaping

On February 7, 2023, a fatal cold stress incident occurred during a landscaping project in Edmonton, Alberta, resulting in the death of a 34-year-old worker, Jason Matthews. Matthews had been working outside in sub-zero temperatures for several hours, clearing snow and ice from a commercial property. Despite wearing standard winter gear, the prolonged exposure to extreme cold and wind led to severe hypothermia. The investigation revealed that the company did not have adequate cold stress management protocols in place. Workers were not given sufficient breaks to warm up, and there was no provision for heated shelters […]