Released on September 29, 2017
Two Saskatchewan companies recently pleaded guilty to occupational health and safety violations.
Thorpe Roofing Ltd. of Prince Albert pleaded guilty to contravening clause 188(2)(a) of the regulations (failed to ensure that each wheel on a rolling scaffold is equipped with a device to securely attach the wheel to the scaffold, resulting in a serious injury to a worker).
The company was fined $28,000 plus a surcharge of $11,200, a total of $39,200, in Prince Albert Provincial Court on September 19, 2017. One additional charge was stayed.
Charges stemmed from an incident on February 9, 2016. A worker was seriously injured after a fall from scaffolding at a workplace in North Battleford.
In a second, unrelated case, Alford Floors & Interiors (1967) Ltd. of Regina pleaded guilty to contravening clause 8(1)(b) of the regulations (fail to give notice to the division as soon as is reasonably possible of every accident at a place of employment that required a worker to be admitted to hospital as an in-patient for a period of 72 hours or more).
The company was fined $2,100, which included a $1,500 fine and $600 surcharge, in Moose Jaw Provincial Court on September 20, 2017.
Charges were laid after an Occupational Health Officer learned about an injured worker through a Workers’ Compensation Report. On October 21, 2016, a worker suffered serious injuries when a ladder was knocked over and the worker fell to the ground. The Officer received the report on November 10, 2016.
Employers and contractors are required to notify Occupational Health and Safety if a worker sustains an injury that requires them to be in the hospital for three days or longer. The notice must contain the name and apparent injuries of the injured or deceased worker, contact information of the employer, the date, time and location of the incident, and a description of what happened.
To report an incident to the Occupational Health and Safety Division, please call 1-800-667-5023 in Saskatoon or 1-800-567-7233 in Regina.
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For more information, contact:
David Horth
Labour Relations and Workplace Safety
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0926
Email: david.horth@gov.sk.ca