Blog Post #1146 – Worker Fatality Results in $325,000 Fine for Coco Paving

Excerpt from the government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’

An employee of Coco Paving Inc., 949 Wilson Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, a heavy civil construction company, was killed when steel casing rolled while being moved by a forklift. The accident happened on November 2, 2015 on a road reconstruction project on Highway 7 near Sciberras Road in Markham, Ontario.

Coco Paving Inc. was upgrading water-mains buried under Highway 7. The work was part of a larger road-widening project. A worker was working alone welding two sections of steel casing on the north shoulder of Highway 7. The total length of the two sections was about 50 feet and weighed about 5,400 pounds.

A wheel loader with forks attached (a forklift) approached the steel casing to lift and rotate the casing to complete the weld. The steel casing suddenly became dislodged from its wooden support and started to roll into a six-foot ditch. The casing rolled onto the worker, who became pinned in the ditch under the casing. The worker later succumbed to the injuries.

Following a trial, the company was fined $325,000 in Newmarket court by Justice of the Peace Philip N. Solomon; Crown Counsel Daniel Kleiman.

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:

Coco Paving Inc. was found guilty of a contravention of the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), section 25, subsection 2(h) which states,

“An employer shall,

(h) take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker.”

I was very surprised to have read this report from 2018 because I have had direct contact with Coco Paving and found them to be a safety-conscience company. I was a construction safety officer on modification project and found them to be a fully compliant-type company that followed instructions and reviewed safety on a daily basis.

Yes, I was very surprised!

HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs including ‘Construction Safety Awareness’, Forklift Certification’ as well as ‘Due Diligence’. Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259 We can also be reached at 

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.

 

 

 

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