SUPERVISOR FINED IN DEATH OF WORKER NEAR LANGENBURG

Released on September 13, 2006

A supervisor has been fined in connection with occupational health and safety (OH&S) charges laid after a fatal electrocution near Langenburg in August of 2005.

Stanley Aberhart of D.J. Miller and Sons Construction pled guilty in Yorkton Provincial Court and received $2,860 in fines and victim fine surcharges.

Aberhart was the supervisor operating a John Deere excavator when the bucket contacted an overhead power line, fatally electrocuting Carmen Reetz of Churchbridge, Saskatchewan.

Aberhart was charged under The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993, with contravening section 4 (a) of the Act (failure to take reasonable care to protect the health and safety of other workers who may be affected by his or her acts or omissions) and section 155(1) of the regulations (failure to ensure the worker takes a visual inspection of equipment and surrounding area to ensure that no one is endangered by the start-up of powered mobile equipment). He pled guilty to the first charge, while the second charge was stayed.

The investigation conducted by Saskatchewan Labour concluded that the employer, D.J. Miller and Sons Construction, maintained written safe work procedures and provided adequate training to its workers. There was no evidence to support a failure of the employer to fulfil its duties under the Act.

"These convictions send the message that there are repercussions for employers and workers who fail to comply with OH&S legislation," Occupational Health and Safety Division acting executive director Glennis Bihun said.

The Occupational Health and Safety Division inspects approximately 4,500 workplaces annually and provides training to more than 4,000 employer and worker representatives each year on their safety responsibilities.

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For More Information, Contact:

Natosha Lipinski Labour Regina Phone: (306) 787-3716