The union representing electrical workers at Manitoba Hydro is mourning the loss of one of its members while also raising concerns about working conditions. "I worked with him for about a year early on in my career and I had many many interactions with him," said Michael Espenell, the business manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2034 on Friday. "He was a beauty.
" Manitoba Hydro said in a news release Thursday one of its employees died after performing work related to a power outage in the Interlake region. Employee dies at Manitoba Hydro work site while working on power outage Espenell said the man, who isn't being identified at this time out of respect for their privacy, was working alone when he died while responding to the call. The Crown corporation confirmed the man was working alone in a statement to CBC News on Friday and said the practice is "common as an initial response across our system.
" Mike Espenell of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2034 said members working alone has long been a concern for the union. (Jaison Empson/CBC) But Espenell said its members working alone has been a longtime concern for the union. "We've raised it as a concern for quite some period of time that the best working-alone plan is to not work alone," said Espenell.
Troy Craig, a business representative with IBEW 2034, said its members are devastated. Craig said it's a "small community" of Hydro workers and many of them would've known t.