Released on January 28, 2010
Two prosecutions have wrapped up as a result of Occupational Health and Safety violations related to fall protection.
Midwest Metal Installations Ltd. pled guilty to two charges after violating Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation. The first charge was for failure to develop a written fall protection plan contravening section 116.1(1) of the OHS Regulations; the second charge related to failure to ensure that workers comply with the OHS Act and regulations under section 17(2) of the OHS Regulations. Fines totalled $620. Three other charges were stayed.
Midwest Metal Installations Ltd.'s Supervisor, Kevin Matiachuk, also pled guilty to one charge for failure to ensure that workers under his direction comply with the OHS Act and Regulations under section 17(2). Matiachuk was fined $480.
In the second prosecution, Paramount Builders Inc. pled guilty to a charge of failure to use a fall protection system where a worker may fall three metres or more contravening section 16(2)(a) of the regulations. Fines totalled $360.
These charges were the result of proactive routine inspections by Occupational Health Officers, who inspect workplaces around Saskatchewan throughout the year.
Occupational Health and Safety has a zero tolerance approach to non-compliance or violations of fall protection legislation.
Of the approximately 4,000 workplace inspections that Occupational Health and Safety conducts annually, about 39 per cent have been on construction sites this year. OHS also 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:
Lisa Danyluk
Advanced Education, Employment and Labour
Regina
Phone: 306-787-7791