Excerpt from the government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’
An employee of Pioneer Construction Inc. of Sudbury, Ontario. while working on a float truck, fell from a ladder and was injured. The ladder should have been secured at the top and bottom to prevent movement. The accident happened at the Thunder Bay International Airport.
In 2016, Pioneer Construction Inc. was contracted to resurface the asphalt of the north runway of the Thunder Bay International Airport. On July 29, 2016, a float truck operator was working near the north runway securing a mobile office unit on a float truck.
Chains were attached to the mobile office unit and a loader hoisted the mobile office unit and placed it onto the float truck. With the unit on the float truck, the worker was to climb to the top of the mobile office unit using a ladder, and detach the chains.
The worker put the ladder on the deck of the float truck to get to the top of the mobile office unit. While the worker was on the ladder, the ladder slipped backwards and down. The worker fell, lost consciousness and suffered bodily injuries.
The ladder had not been secured at the top and the bottom to prevent movement.
Following a guilty plea, Pioneer Construction Inc. was fined for $50,000 in Thunder Bay court by Justice of the Peace John H. Guthrie; Crown Counsel Katherine Ballweg.
The court also imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
My opinion
The law(s) in contravention:
Pioneer Construction Inc. failed to comply with the section 82(2)(d) of the Construction Projects Regulation (Ontario Regulation 213/91), as required by section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Section 82, subsection (2)(d) of the ‘Construction projects regulation 213/91 states,
“The ladder,
(d) shall be secured at the top and bottom to prevent movement of the ladder.”
Section 25, subsection 1(c) of the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) states,
“An employer shall ensure that,
(c) the measures and procedures prescribed are carried out in the workplace.”
The company would have learned that in the new “Working at Heights” training program that came into effect in April of 2015. He/she also had the right to refuse under section 43 of the OHSA. I guess he/she wasn’t paying attention.
Where was the supervisor in all this? Hmmm….
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs including ‘Due Diligence’, ‘Working at Heights’ and ‘Standard Operating Procedures’. Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.
Ensure your workplace is a safe place.
Remember – In Ontario, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.