CONSTRUCTION FIRM CONVICTED OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY VIOLATIONS

Released on October 19, 2004

A Saskatchewan firm has been convicted under the provincial Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Act and Regulations following an incident that caused the serious injury of a worker.

Colt Construction Ltd., a Saskatoon-area firm, was convicted of failing to ensure workers were sufficiently and competently supervised. The firm was fined $10,000 plus a $1,500 victim fine surcharge.

On March 28th, 2004, an employee was installing roof trusses at a multi-level construction site in Saskatoon when he fell 40 feet to the ground below, hitting an unfinished balcony on the way down. He suffered serious injuries from which he has since substantially recovered, which included the loss of a kidney, a collapsed lung, multiple broken bones and a puncture wound on his leg. The employee was not wearing fall protection at the time of the incident.

"Every serious incident has repercussions for the workers involved," Executive Director of Occupational Health & Safety Allan Walker said. "This conviction sends the message that failing to ensure compliance with OH&S regulations has repercussions for employers."

In 2003, approximately one in 20 Saskatchewan workers covered by the Workers' Compensation Board suffered a time loss injury or illness and Occupational Health & Safety officials investigated 13 fatalities in the last year. The Occupational Health & Safety Division will conduct 4,500 workplace inspections this year – an increase of 50 per cent over last year.

Maximum penalties for an offence that causes the death or serious injury of a worker are $300,000 and two years in jail.

-30-

For More Information, Contact:

Allan Walker Labour Regina Phone: (306) 787-4481