Worker killed on logging site in northern Alberta

A worker was killed Monday afternoon in a logging area between Athabasca and Smith, Alta.

The man was struck by debris that had fallen from a grappler being used to load logs onto a trailer, said Brookes Merritt, a spokesman for Occupational Health and Safety.

Merritt said the man was between 35 and 40 years old.

Het said the employer's name will not be released, but said the prime contractor is Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Ltd.

OHS is now investigating the death, which is at least the ninth workplace death in the province since the beginning of November.

Smith is about 200 kilometres north of Edmonton.