The Ministry of Justice and Attorney General has laid charges against self-employed backhoe operator Lorry Reimer and SaskEnergy, for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation violations related to the April 2008 gas explosion in Nipawin which resulted in the deaths of Jack and Brent Boxall.
Lorry Reimer is charged with:
- contravening section 259(2) of the regulations for failing to ensure mechanical excavation does not take place within 600 millimetres of an existing pipeline; and
- contravening section 5(a) of the Act for failing to ensure that his actions do not expose workers to risks to their health and safety.
SaskEnergy is charged with:
- contravening section 371(3)(a)(iii) of the regulations for failing to properly guard a gas pipe riser;
- contravening section 371(1)(a) of the regulations for failing to develop and implement written procedures for the safe installation, use and maintenance of a system;
- contravening section 371(1)© of the regulations for failing to train its worker in the implementation of safety procedures to protect a gas riser during a building demolition;
- contravening section 17(1) of the regulations for failing to ensure its worker was properly supervised with respect to the guarding of a gas riser during a building demolition; and
- contravening section 3 of the Act for failing to ensure the health and safety of its workers insofar as is reasonably practicable.
The charges were the result of the investigation by Occupational Health Officers into the April 18, 2008 gas explosion at B.J. Sausage and Meats in Nipawin, Saskatchewan.
OHS conducts approximately 4,000 workplace inspections annually and provides training to more than 4,000 employer and worker representatives each year on their safety responsibilities.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Rikki Bote
Advanced Education, Employment and Labour
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4156
News Archives
.jpg)