The investigation into the sudden death of a 19-year-old Walmart employee in Nova Scotia, whose body was found in “a large walk-in oven” in the store’s bakery department is expected to be “lengthy,” according to a spokesperson for the Halifax Regional Police.
The teenage staffer, whose name has not been revealed, was found on Oct. 19.
The “complex” investigation is being conducted by officials at the Halifax Regional Police, the Halifax medical examiner’s office and the Occupational Health and Safety division of Halifax’s department of labor, according to the Halifax Regional Police spokesperson. It would be difficult to speculate about whether the investigation will take weeks or months, she said.
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The Halifax Walmart store will be closed until further notice, according to a Walmart spokesperson.
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The company issued the following statement, “We are heartbroken and our deepest thoughts are with our associate and their family. Our focus remains on taking care of our associates and making sure they have the support they need.”
The statement continued, “As police have stated, this is a very complex matter and the investigation is ongoing.”
Representatives for the Halifax medical examiner’s office deferred requests for comment until Thursday.
A spokesperson for the Nova Scotia Department of Labor, Skills and Immigration said that a stop work order was issued Tuesday for the bakery and one piece of equipment at the Walmart store. The department cannot release any further details, due to the investigation being active the spokesperson added.
The Halifax Regional Police’s press officer issued an update on the investigation Wednesday, “The Halifax Regional Police continues to investigate the sudden death of a 19-year-old woman found at Walmart at 6990 Mumford Road on October 19. It is important to note that the investigation has not yet reached a point where the cause and manner of death have been confirmed.”
The statement continued, “The investigation is complex and involves several partner agencies. An investigation of this nature may take a significant amount of time. We urge the public to be mindful of sharing speculative information on social media. Please be aware of the impacts that speculation could have on family, colleagues, and loved ones of the woman.”
With more than 500,000 residents, Halifax is the most populated city in Atlantic Canada. Walmart first ventured into Canada in 1999 with 122 stores and had built up its presence there to 300 stores by 2008. In 2013, the Mumford Road location was renovated into one of the chain’s large-scale stores. It had originally opened as a Walmart discount store in 2001 and was reportedly expanded to offer a full line of groceries and other select food products that are offered in traditional Walmart stores.
Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada reported that 18 Nova Scotians died on the job in 2023 compared to 24 people in 2022. Comparatively, 5,486 workers were killed on the job in the U.S., according to the AFL-CIO.
Last year there were 1,827 reported injuries in the retail sector, according to the Workers Compensation Board of Nova Scotia. With an assessable payroll of $1.8 million, last year’s injury rate was 0.94 percent — a slight uptick compared to 0.91 percent in 2022.