“If you had half an hour with my brother, you’d be in stitches,” he said. Like the time Darrell spread the story that Rick had won $1 million on the lotto and “kind of made a deal not to tell anybody,” Rick said. “You wouldn’t believe how many people I had coming up to me and congratulating me. Everywhere I went, I had to explain myself.” Rick was speaking just three days after Darrell died from injuries sustained on the job at the American Iron and Metals plant in Saint John Harbor, the second AIM worker to be fatally injured on the job in the past seven months. Darrell Richards, far right, is pictured with brothers Rick, left, and Keith. (Submitted by Rick Richards) Born just 14 months apart to a family of 11 siblings on Old Black River Road, Darrell and Rick looked so alike they could have been twins. “At times he pretended to be me. I used to call him “Good Time Darrell.” There was nothing my brother didn’t do and it didn’t surprise me at all.” In addition to his fun-loving nature, Darrell was known for his many talents: as a Red Seal carpenter, avid outdoorsman, elk hunter and game guide, drummer, bass player, father, partner and friend. “I can’t imagine how many people are affected by his loss, because every time you met Darrell Richards, you felt important. You felt like you were the only person at that time that mattered to him,” said friend and partner Joe. – Anne Rendon. Richards leaves behind his partner, Bessie Collins, and three grown children: Danny, Kirk and Darrell. Darrell, pictured here on an elk hunt, was a lifelong outdoorsman, according to his brother Rick. (Submitted by Rick Richards)
Few details available
Rick said he learned of the accident Thursday at the scrap yard at 145 Gateway St. when his niece called his cottage to say Darrell had been injured. “We knew it was a work accident, but we had very little information,” Rick said, adding that his brother had worked at the west side plant for “three or four years” doing various jobs. On Friday, after spending the night waiting at the hospital, “we knew he wasn’t going to make it,” Rick said. “They did everything they could do for him. They took him off life support, and that was it.” Rick said Darrell was “working, cutting some pipes or something, and something exploded. That’s all I can tell you. Whatever happened, it was some kind of explosion.” The American Iron and Metal yard at 145 Gateway St. on the lower west side of Saint John. (Julia Wright, CBC)
2 AIM deaths under investigation by Worksafe
WorkSafeNB is investigating, according to spokesman Laragh Dooley. “Complex investigations such as this can take 12 months or more to complete because the process involves a thorough examination of the scene, witness statements, review of any video footage, examination of any machinery or equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE). present, work procedures and whether the injured worker received adequate training and supervision. “We hope this investigation will provide the root cause to prevent a similar tragedy from devastating another family.” Darrell loved to tease people and “goad them on,” according to his brother Rick. He was the seventh in a family of 11 siblings who grew up on Old Black River Road. (Submitted by Rick Richards) In November, another man died from injuries sustained in a workplace accident at the metal recycling plant. His name and other details have not been released, but WorkSafe has launched an investigation into his death. AIM has been the site of major fires, numerous explosions, threats of legal action and several stop-work orders since it signed a 40-year lease with the Port of Saint John in 2002. Saint John Mayor Donna Reardon called the death of Darrell Richards “a tragic accident and on behalf of the city I would like to extend our condolences to the family. Everyone going to work should get home safely.” American Iron and Metal’s metal recycling business has come under fire from neighbors who complain about noise, dust and pollution from the site. (CBC) AIM’s lease is in Port Saint John, which is federally owned, and the plant is licensed by the provincial government. As a result, its operations fall outside the jurisdiction of the city of Saint John, Reardon said. “At least the explosions that happen regularly should stop.”
The factory is still operating
While the investigation continues, the AIM plant is still operating, according to WorkSafe. “A stop work order has been issued for the piece of machinery involved in the incident, a press cylinder being prepared for recycling. The stop work order will only be lifted when our evidence indicates that all cylinders are safe to operate,” Dooley said. “WorkSafeNB would only shut down an entire facility when there is a risk to the entire facility and there are no health and safety controls in place. We usually only shut down a part of the work. In this case, the stop work order affects any work related to the press rollers ». Saint John police have no further updates at this time, according to Sgt. Sean Rocca. Richards, a lifelong musician, played his last show with his band Ryan Drive on June 18, according to friend and bandmate Jo-Ann Renton. ‘We had a great time. He was always so positive and just a wonderful person.’ (Submitted by Rick Richards)
He remembered as it was
Rick Richards said Darrell’s family needs more information about what happened. “Am I satisfied? Not really. We would like to know what happened. We want to know more details,” he said. Darrell would never have wanted family and friends to feel sorry for him, his brother Rick said. Richards, third from left, with friends and bandmates Dan Gallant, Jo-Ann Renton, Wendy Hanson and Jordan Porelle. (Submitted by Jo-Ann Renton) “He didn’t want to have any kind of service. He was that type of person. As much as everyone knew him and loved him, he just said, ‘I want to be remembered as I was, not at a funeral and people crying and crying.’ Jo-Ann Renton, who played with Darrell for six years in the band Ryan Drive, agreed. “He would want us to celebrate. He would want us to remember him for the wonderful, happy man he was — and that’s what we intend to do.”
