Released on August 1, 2012
Today Lorry Reimer of Nipawin was fined $28,000 for violations of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation which resulted in the deaths of Jack and Brent Boxall on April 18, 2008.
On May 16, 2012, Lorry Reimer was found guilty in Nipawin Provincial Court of two counts under the OHS legislation related to the incident whereby Jack Boxall, the owner of a trucking company and his son, Brent Boxall were fatally injured as a result of an April 18, 2008 explosion in Nipawin. A ruptured gas line located in an adjacent lot where demolition related excavation was taking place caused the explosion. Six other individuals were injured in the same incident.
The charges for which Reimer was found guilty include:
- contravening section 259(2) of the regulations (failure to ensure mechanical excavation does not take place within 600 millimetres of an existing pipeline); and
- contravening section 5(a) of the Act (failure to ensure that his actions do not expose workers to risks to their health and safety).
Since this tragic incident occurred, the OHS Division of the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety is reviewing its regulations related to the guarding of above ground gas risers in consultation with industry and other affected stakeholders.
OHS conducts approximately 4,500 worksite inspections annually to ensure standards are known, understood and enforced, and investigates where workers are killed or seriously injured in a work related incident.
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For more information, contact:
Shannon McMillan
Labour Relations and Workplace Safety
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1331