Excerpt from the OH&S Canada magazine
An Edmonton-based company has been fined $16,000 following an incident that killed a worker. In-Line Contracting Ltd. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that an effective safeguard was put into place to prevent contact with a dangerous part of a machine, notes a statement from Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety in June, 2012.
The conviction relates to an incident on August 24, 2009 near Maymont, Saskatchewan in which a worker was killed when he was dislodged from a piece of machinery that rolled onto him when installing culverts. Four other charges against the firm were stayed.
My opinion
You mean to say that after a three year investigation, all the government of Saskatchewan could fine In-Line Contracting Ltd. was $16,000? I bet the entire investigation costs five times that much not including any court time. What a lot of crock this is!
There is no deterrent here. Work will continue on as before and workers will continue to get hurt because the province does not see fit to do its duty.
I can think of at least 3 counts of violations in the Ontario OHSA as well as the ‘Construction’ regulation 213/91. At a minimum personal fine of $25,000 per contravention and a possible corporate fine of $500,000 in Ontario, it is safe to say that the province of Saskatchewan has dropped the ball here and failed to protect the workplace.
Life has to be worth more than $16,000. It just has to.
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 ‘Due Diligence’, ‘Machine Guarding’, ‘Lockout and Tagout’ and ‘Standard Operating Procedures’. Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal – CHSEP – Advanced
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.