CABINET MANUFACTURER FINED FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH SAFETY STANDARDS

A Saskatoon cabinet manufacturer has been fined after violating occupational health and safety legislation that could have prevented a serious workplace accident last April.

Classic Woodcraft Ltd. received a total of $19,500 in fines and victim surcharges in Saskatoon Provincial Court after pleading guilty to three charges under The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 and regulations.

On April 13, 2006, 24 year-old Denver Falconer, an employee of Classic Woodcraft Ltd., severed his thumb and three fingers while operating a table saw. Section 151(2) of The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996 stipulates that an employer must ensure a worker uses a push stick or push block to feed wood into any machine that is used for cutting or shaping wood. Classic Woodcraft Ltd. was fined for failing to comply with this regulation as well as sections 19(1) and 17(1) under the regulations and section 3 of The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993, relating to safety training, supervision and ensuring the health and safety of a worker.

"Compliance with occupational health and safety standards can and does prevent workplace injuries such as this," Occupational Health and Safety Acting Assistant Deputy Minister Glennis Bihun said. "Workplace injuries are important reminders that all of us, workers and employers alike, need to be vigilant when it comes to safety."

The Occupational Health and Safety Division inspects approximately 4,000 workplaces annually and provides training to more than 4,000 employer and worker representatives each year on their safety responsibilities.

Maximum penalties for an offence that causes the death or serious injury of a worker are $300,000 and two years in jail.

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For more information, contact:

Shannon Dumba
Labour
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3021
Email: sdumba@lab.gov.sk.ca