TWO SASKATCHEWAN COMPANIES FINED FOR FALL PROTECTION VIOLATIONS

Artistic Masonry & Stucco Ltd. of Regina has pleaded guilty to two charges under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act and was fined $2,440 in Regina Provincial Court.

The charges were for failure to provide and/or require workers to use approved industrial protective headwear and failure to use a fall protection system where a worker may fall three metres or more.

The charges resulted from a routine inspection on November 5, 2009, at a Regina worksite. Seven workers were observed stuccoing a house without fall protection or protective headwear.

Two other charges against the company were stayed in relation to a separate incident that occurred on March 3, 2010. One charge against a supervisor was also stayed.

In another case, T.U.F.F Exteriors Ltd. of Lumsden pleaded guilty to two counts under the OHS Act related to a failure to use a fall protection system where a worker may fall three metres or more and failure to competently supervise. The company was fined $1,960 in Weyburn Provincial Court.

The charges relate to an inspection at a commercial construction site in Weyburn on January 27, 2011, where three workers were observed on a roof without fall protection equipment. Two other charges against the company were stayed.

Injuries caused by falls represent almost 13 per cent of all workplace injuries reported. OHS has a zero tolerance approach to violations of fall protection.

OHS conducts approximately 4,500 worksite inspections annually to ensure standards are known and enforced.

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For more information, contact:

Shannon McMillan
Labour Relations and Workplace Safety
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1331