Released on September 28, 2018
Two Saskatchewan employers pleaded guilty to charges under the Occupational Health and Safety regulations this week.
Ronald Creusot of Ceylon, operating as RC Contracting, pleaded guilty to contravening clause 174(1)(e) of the regulations (being an employer fail to ensure that scaffold planks are secured to prevent accidental or inadvertent movement in any direction, causing serious injury to a worker).
Creusot was fined $10,000 plus a $4,000 surcharge in Weyburn Provincial Court on September 25, 2018. One additional charge was stayed.
Charges stemmed from an incident that took place on November 6, 2017 near Ceylon. A worker sustained serious head injuries after falling approximately six feet when stepping from one scaffold platform to another.
In an unrelated matter, A.I.M. Agri/Installations & Maintenance Corp. of Regina pleaded guilty to contravening subsection 201(1) of the regulations (being an employer, fail to ensure that every hoist, crane and lifting device, including all rigging, used at a place of employment is designed, constructed, installed, maintained and operated to perform safely any task for which the hoist, crane, lifting device or rigging is used, resulting in the serious injury of a worker).
The company pleaded guilty in Regina Provincial Court on September 26, 2018 and was fined $57,142.85 plus a surcharge of $22,857.15 for a total fine of $80,000. Three other charges were stayed.
Charges were laid following an incident on April 19, 2017 at a worksite near Regina. A worker suffered neck and back injuries after being struck by a piece of falling sheet metal.
Employers must comply with Occupational Health and Safety regulations to ensure worksites are safe for everyone. Learn more about keeping workplaces and equipment safe by contacting your industry safety association. Visit www.worksafesask.ca to learn more about workplace safety and to find a list of safety associations in the province.
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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