SASKATCHEWAN CONTRACTORS GUILTY OF SAFETY VIOLATIONS

Two Saskatchewan contractors have been fined more than $16,000 in total for contravening sections of The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act.

Keith Arlt, owner of Arlt Building Saskatoon, was convicted of two charges under the OHS Act and was fined $15,400 in Saskatoon Provincial Court.

Arlt was charged in relation to a November 4, 2008, incident in which two workers fell from a platform after it collapsed at a Saskatoon construction site. One of the workers was seriously injured.

In another case, S.J.R. Framing Ltd. pleaded guilty in Regina Provincial Court to one count under the OHS Act related to its failure to use a fall protection system on November 26, 2010. The company was fined $840.

Two additional charges against S.J.R. Framing Ltd. were stayed in court.

The charges arose after an Occupational Health Officer observed workers on the roof of a Regina house construction site without fall protection.

OHS has zero-tolerance for any failure to comply with fall protection and recommends prosecution whenever this is observed.

In 2011/2012, there have been 43 convictions for non-compliance of OHS regulations and more than $262,000 in fines.

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For more information, contact:

Bill Stovin
Labour Relations and Workplace Safety
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0926