Blog Post #395 – Years-old Injury Spurs Hefty Fines at Woodall

Excerpt from the OH&S Canada magazine

The injury of a worker almost five years ago has ended with a trial involving two Ontario companies that were, ultimately, found to be in breach of safety requirements.

Woodall Construction Co. Limited and Victoria Steel Corporation were fined a total of $150,000 last December in connection with the injury of an employee on October 6, 2004.

Woodall Construction was working on a project in Windsor, Ontario and had contracted Victoria Steel to install the building’s frame, says a statement from Ontario’s Ministry of Labour (MOL). On the day of the accident, an ironworker for Victoria Steel, while fitting a beam into place, asked another worker to loosen the anchor bolt connecting a supporting column to the ground, the ministry reports.

This loosening caused the support column to collapse and the worker to fall more than 11 metres to the ground. The worker suffered broken bones, a collapsed lung and a dislocated shoulder, the MOL notes.

Woodall Construction received a fine of $75,000 for its failure, as a constructor, to ensure measures and procedures prescribed in the construction projects regulation were carried out. Victoria Steel was handed a $75,000 penalty, this time as an employer, on a similar count under the act.

My opinion

Whether it is 5 years or 1 year, the employer can be found guilty of violating any section of the OHSA or appropriate regulations.

One may believe the employee goofed and the employer should not be held accountable. Oh well, maybe you come from Alberta where health and safety is not enforced on the jobsite! Well then, you have something to complain about! In Ontario, the employer is responsible for all actions on the job site and must provide supervision to the workers to ensure the regulations are being met.

Remember – In Ontario, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”

HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs including ‘Fall Protection’ and Working at Heights’. Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.

We can also be reached at

‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.

Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Foundation Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.

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