Village Of Laird Fined $150,000 For Violating Occupational Health And Safety Regulations

Released on July 19, 2024

On July 10, 2024, the Village of Laird pleaded guilty in Rosthern Provincial Court to two violations of The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020.

The village was fined for contravening subsection 3-6(1) of the regulations (being an employer, fail to ensure that all work at a place of employment is sufficiently and competently supervised, resulting in the serious injury of a worker), as well as contravening clause 11-4(b) of the regulations (being an employer, fail to ensure that if a defect or unsafe condition that may create a hazard to a worker is identified in the powered mobile equipment, steps are taken immediately to protect the health and safety of any worker who may be at risk until the defect is repaired or the unsafe condition is corrected and as soon as is reasonably practicable, the defect is repaired or the unsafe condition is corrected, resulting in the serious injury of a worker).

The Court imposed a fine of $53,571.43 with a surcharge of $21,428.57 for each violation, for a total amount of $150,000.

Two other charges were withdrawn.

The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on July 19, 2022, in Laird Saskatchewan, when a worker was seriously injured after they were ejected from the seat of a mower and became trapped beneath it.

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