TWO COMPANIES PLEAD GUILTY TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CHARGES

Two companies have plead guilty to charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations in Provincial Court.

Johnston Bros. (Binscarth) Ltd., a Manitoba company, was charged after a worker was injured when the scraper he was driving collided with another scraper in October, 2008 near Lake Lenore. The company was fined a total of $3,380 for:

• failure to ensure that a worker was trained in all matters required to protect the health and safety of the worker; and
• failure to notify Occupational Health and Safety as soon as reasonably possible of a dangerous occurrence.

Three additional charges against Johnston Bros. were stayed in court.

In another incident, charges were laid against G.R.W. Contracting Ltd., following a routine Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) inspection of a worksite in Prince Albert. The Occupational Health Officer observed workers of a company under contract to G.R.W. Contracting Ltd., on scaffolds and roofs of a new condominium development without fall protection. A stop work order was issued.

G.R.W. Contracting Ltd. plead guilty to failing to develop and implement a written fall protection plan and was fined $310. One additional charge against the company was stayed.

The OHS Division works to eliminate workplace injuries and illnesses. OHS conducts about 4,000 worksite inspections annually to ensure standards are known, understood and enforced, and investigates where workers are killed or seriously injured in a work-related incident.

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For more information, contact:

Jennifer Veri
Labour Relations and Workplace Safety
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1331
Email: jennifer.veri@gov.sk.ca