Hamilton worker died on the job hours before COVID shuttered National Steel Car

Collin Grayley died on the job Friday - the same day a COVID outbreak shut down his workplace at National Steel Car for the next two weeks.

As far as his family knows, the 35-year-old painter escaped the fast-spreading viral variant that has so far infected at least 21 of his co-workers, an outbreak that spurred a rare public health announcement about the company shutdown. Grayley had tested negative for COVID earlier that week.

But on his final shift before that shutdown, Grayley was found by co-workers slumped over near a scissor lift" and a train car that was being painted. He was pronounced dead in hospital. The Ontario Ministry of Labour is investigating, but would not provide any details about the incident Monday.

Grayley's grieving family has questions about that final shift - and worker safety in general at the east-end railroad car and tank manufacturer, which has dealt with a serious fire and another workplace death within the last eight months.

I can't bring my son back, but (if there was an accident) I want to make sure it never happens again," said Collin's mother, Lynn Grayley, who has heard concerns from her son's co-workers that he could have been accidentally crushed between the train car and lift equipment used by painters to extend reach.

Lynn was still waiting for an update from both the coroner and provincial Labour Ministry late Monday.

Regardless, she said her son also escaped injury in a November fire and was worried about the sudden COVID outbreak just like the rest of his painting crew, a close-knit group Lynn calls his band of brothers."

Their responsibility is to keep their people safe," she said of the company. What's been happening there is unacceptable."

The Spectator reached out to National Steel Car but was still waiting on a response Monday night.

The COVID outbreak and Collin's death also come at a time of turmoil for the workers' union, United Steel Workers Local 7135.

A memo on the union website dated April 21 says officers of the local have been suspended" pending an international USW investigation into unspecified concerns. Hamilton-area union co-ordinator Tom Walsh has been appointed acting administrator for the local.

Walsh said Monday he does not know any confirmed" circumstances around Grayley's death and is awaiting an update from the provincial probe.

But the fact that it follows another workplace death last year, when a 51-year-old was struck by a large piece of metal, is obviously a concern for us," he said.

Family described Grayley as a doting dad who was actually excited" about the plant shutdown because it meant an unexpected chance to spend time with young kids Emma-Lynn, 12, Robbie, 5 and three-year-old Joey. He loved being a dad more than anything and he lived for those kids," said a tearful Lynn.

Grayley had recently separated from his wife, but took every opportunity to hang out with his children.

He arranged elaborate Minecraft-themed video game parties for Robbie. He spent countless hours sprawled on the floor playing trucks with his youngest, Joey. He twirled and pranced with abandon at an end-of-year dance recital for Emma-Lynn. He had no rhythm, but plenty of enthusiasm," said sister-in-law Brandy Grayley, laughing.

He was such a prankster, a jokester. He was always laughing and making other people laugh."

Collin was also obsessed with vikings - both the NFL football club and the ancient nordic warriors of legend.

That's why a friend in Collin's band of brothers" has started creating car window decals of a Viking head that read in loving memory of Collin Grayley."

Everyone loved him. He was a great dad, a great friend," said longtime co-worker Christopher Hunter. He was the type of person who would always ask how you're doing - and then follow up later, because he was actually concerned about how you're feeling."

A co-worker has also launched a GoFundMe.com fundraising page to support Collin's family.

Matthew Van Dongen is a Hamilton-based reporter covering transportation for The Spectator. Reach him via email: mvandongen@thespec.com