Released on December 23, 2013
Kramer Ltd., of Saskatoon, was found guilty of three charges under Occupational Health and Safety legislation and was fined $33,600 in Saskatoon Provincial Court on December 11, 2013.
The company was guilty of the following charges:
- contravening section 19 of the regulations (failure to ensure that its workers were trained in all matters required to protect the health or safety of the worker) and was fined $8,000 with a $3,200 surcharge;
- contravening clause 17(1)(a) of the regulations (failure to ensure all work at a place of employment was sufficiently and competently supervised) and was fined $8,000 with a $3,200 surcharge; and
- contravening clause 3(a) of the Act (failure to ensure the health, safety and welfare of a worker, at work) and was fined $8,000 with a $3,200 surcharge.
The charges stemmed from a serious injury to a worker that occurred on March 26, 2010, at a worksite in Saskatoon. A worker climbed a stepladder to fix an overhead door guard that had been bent. After loosening the bolts to the guard, the door struck the stepladder and the worker fell to the concrete floor.
In a separate case, Able Eavestroughing Ltd. of Brandon, Manitoba pleaded guilty to three counts under Occupational Health and Safety legislation and was fined $2,240 in Carlyle Provincial Court on December 11, 2013.
The business pleaded guilty to:
- contravening section 116 of the regulations (failure to ensure that workers used a fall protection system at a work area where a worker may fall three metres or more) and was fined $800 with a $320 surcharge;
- contravening section 91 of the regulations (failure to provide and/or require a worker to use appropriate protective headwear) and was fined $300 with a $120 surcharge; and
- contravening section 17 of the regulations (failure to ensure that all work at a place of employment was sufficiently and competently supervised) and was fined $500 with a $200 surcharge.
The charges relate to an incident on July 17, 2012 where an Occupational Health and Safety Officer observed eleven workers on an elevated platform at a worksite in Carlyle working in violation of Occupational Health and Safety legislation. Three other charges were stayed.
Occupational Health and Safety conducts approximately 4,000 worksite inspections annually to ensure standards are known, understood and enforced. In 2013-14, there have been 39 convictions for Occupational Health and Safety violations and more than $370,000 in fines.
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For more information, contact:
Shannon McMillan
Labour Relations and Workplace Safety
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0253