OWNER OF REGINA ROOFING FIRM PLEADS GUILTY TO OHS VIOLATIONS

Released on June 9, 2010

Mark Thomson, owner of Thomson Roofing, pled guilty to three charges under Saskatchewan's Occupational Health and Safety Regulations and was fined a total of $1,560.

Mr. Thomson pled guilty to:

• contravening Section 91(1) of the regulations for failure to provide and require workers to use protective headwear (fined $300 plus a $60 victim fine surcharge);
• contravening Section 96(1) of the regulations for failure to require workers to use appropriate footwear (fined $300 plus a $60 victim fine surcharge); and,
• contravening Section 116(2)(a) of the regulations for failure to ensure workers use a fall protection system where a worker may fall three metres or more (fined $600 plus a $240 victim fine surcharge).

A fourth charge under Section 116.1 for failing to have a fall protection plan was stayed.

These charges were the result of a proactive routine inspection 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.

Occupational Health and Safety inspects approximately 4,000 workplaces annually and provides training to more than 4,000 employer and worker representatives each year on their safety responsibilities. In 2009-10, construction industry inspections accounted for about 35 per cent of all OHS worksite inspections.

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For more information, contact:

Bill Stovin
Advanced Education, Employment and Labour
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0926