As we stand here outside of Clinton mourning the loss of Brother Sam Ward, a fifth-year apprentice out of Local 146, our hearts are heavy beyond words. Just hours ago, Sam was working outside on what was believed to be a dead and tested bus duct. According to those on-site, Allied performed the required Live-Dead-Live procedure in a 40-cal suit, and everyone was working under the correct work order.

As we stand here outside of Clinton mourning the loss of Brother Sam Ward, a fifth-year apprentice out of Local 146, our hearts are heavy beyond words. Just hours ago, Sam was working outside on what was believed to be a dead and tested bus duct. According to those on-site, Allied performed the required Live-Dead-Live procedure in a 40-cal suit, and everyone was working under the correct work order.

We come to work committed to safety, following every procedure and company protocol, yet sometimes—even when we do everything right—it still isn’t enough. Sam made contact with the bus duct while testing and torquing and tragically lost his life after two devastating blasts.

A young brother, a husband, and a father will not be returning home tonight. His loss has shaken all of us. Some workers have expressed deep concerns about what they believe may have been negligence, and they are calling for answers and accountability from Constellation. What we all want most is the truth, change, and safety—so no other family or crew ever experiences this pain again.

Please keep Sam’s family in your prayers. The hugs and tears we share out here don’t feel like enough to honor the life he lived or the grief we’re carrying. Sam was young, driven, and inspiring. May he rest in peace, and may we continue to stand together for safer workplaces and for justice for our brother.