THREE SASKATCHEWAN FIRMS FINED FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY VIOLATIONS

Three Saskatchewan firms and two company directors were fined recently in Provincial Court under the provincial Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act and Regulations.

Strapko Construction Ltd. and company director Theodore Strapko were fined $15,000 and $1,000 respectively after pleading guilty to a contravention of OHS regulations for failing to ensure a worker wore fall protection. The worker died after falling 10 feet from a rolling scaffold located at a construction site in Tisdale on October 6th, 2003.

Regina Pallet was fined $2,000 for contravening four requirements of OHS regulations after the company had been repeatedly directed by occupational health officers to comply. The company pled guilty to contraventions of regulations concerning the use of guardrails and appropriate footwear, the provision of adequate sanitation and cleanliness and the control of noise.

Prairie Roofing Ltd. and company director Brent Nerenberg were fined a total of $800 for contravening the Act. The company and Mr. Nerenberg pled guilty in respect of a July 30th, 2004 incident in which they permitted a worker to work at a height without fall protection and other protective equipment, despite being specifically warned to comply after a worker's fall earlier in the day.

"These convictions send the message that failing to ensure compliance with OHS regulations has repercussions for employers," Executive Director of Occupational Health & Safety Allan Walker said.

Approximately one in 20 Saskatchewan workers covered by the Workers' Compensation Board suffers a time loss injury or illness each year. The Occupational Health & Safety Division will conduct 4,500 workplace inspections this year – an increase of 50 per cent over previous years.

The maximum penalty under The Occupational Health and Safety Act for an offence that does not cause and is not likely to cause the death or serious injury of a worker is $10,000. The maximum penalty for an offence that causes the death or serious injury of a worker is $300,000 and two years in jail.

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For More Information, Contact:

Allan Walker Labour Regina Phone: (306) 787-4481