Released on October 30, 2017
The Sunrise Regional Health Authority pleaded guilty to four violations of occupational health and safety regulations in Yorkton Provincial Court on October 23, 2017.
Charges stem from three separate incidents.
On March 20, April 8 and September 16, 2015, multiple workers were exposed to spilled formalin (a formaldehyde-based disinfectant) at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre.
As a result, the Sunrise Regional Health Authority pleaded guilty to:- contravening clause 310(d) of the regulations (failure to ensure, where there is a possibility of an accumulation, spill or leak of a chemical substance or biological substance that may be hazardous to the health or safety of a worker at a place of employment, that competent persons, equipment, supplies and personal protective equipment are available for the prompt, safe and effective containment, neutralizing and decontamination of any accumulation, spill or leak); and
- contravening clause 318(3)(a) of the regulations (failure to ensure that a worker who works with, or in proximity to, a controlled product is trained in the content required on the supplier label and workplace label for the controlled product and the purpose and significance of the information contained on those labels).
In a second incident, an employee at the Yorkton Regional Heath Centre suffered serious crushing injuries to her arm after her arm was entangled in a laundry conveyer on May 21, 2015.
The health authority pleaded guilty to contravening clause 137(1)(a) of the regulations (failure to provide an effective safeguard where a worker may contact a dangerous moving part, resulting in a serious injury to a worker).
They were fined $35,714.37 plus a $14,285.63 surcharge. An additional charge related to this incident was stayed in court.
A third incident occurred on July 12, 2015 at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre. An employee’s hand became pinned between the handle of a motorized cart and a door jamb, and she suffered a fractured wrist.
The health authority pleaded guilty to contravening subsection 154(2) of the regulations (failure to ensure that only trained operators are required or permitted to operate powered mobile equipment, resulting in a serious injury to a worker).
The fine was $21,430 plus a $8,570 surcharge. Three additional charges related to this incident were stayed in court.
While everyone is responsible to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace, employers carry the greatest responsibility because of their authority and control over the worksite.
The Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety works to eliminate workplace injuries and illnesses through education, inspections and prosecutions.
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For more information, contact:
Jennifer Veri
Labour Relations and Workplace Safety
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1331
Email: jennifer.veri@gov.sk.ca