Excerpt from the OH&S Canada magazine
A roofing company and a supervisor from Flatrock, Newfoundland, have both pleaded guilty to charges laid after an inspection by Service NL occupational health and safety branch in June of 2012.
Oceanside Roofing Inc. was fined $2,000 for failing to ensure that a fall arrest system was adequately secured to an anchorage point or lifeline. Charges alleging failure to provide and maintain a safe workplace were withdrawn.
The company’s supervisor and director pleaded guilty to failing as a supervisor to ensure that another worker wore fall protection, and failing as a worker to ensure that his own fall arrest system was secured to an anchorage point or lifeline. He was fined $750 as a supervisor and $500 as a worker. The charge of failing as a worker to use the provided fall arrest system was withdrawn.
My opinion
In Ontario, the new ‘Working at Heights’ legislation takes care of those not complying with controls for potential fall hazards in the construction sector.
I really needed to bring this type of information to you, the reader, to ensure that it is understood that fall-related accidents happen all too often in all of the provinces and territories.
Please ensure that your workplace is a safe place and that your company is complying with all legislation, whether it be federal or provincial. The costs of compliance is always cheaper than non-compliance.
Remember – In Ontario, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.