Excerpt from the OH&S Canada Magazine (December 2016)
The proprietor of a Dorchester-based roofing company was sentenced on November 03, 2016, to serve 3 days in prison and pay a $5,000 fine over an incident in a fall in 2015, in which an employee was injured in a fall last year.
According to a court bulletin from the Ontario Ministry of Labour, AB Clothier Roofing proprietor, A Bradley Clothier, and two firm employees, were working on a roofing project at a two-storey house in Bayfield, Ontario on August 17, 2015, when one of the employees fell more than five metres from the roof. As the workers were not using fall-protection equipment at the time, Clothier told the employee to put lifelines and fall-arrest gear on the roof to make it appear as if they had been using them when the investigator arrived.
Clothier pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that a worker was using appropriate fall-protection equipment and attempting to deceive and obstruct a MOL inspector’s investigation.
My opinion
Wow, the reader does know that this firm, and all companies in the construction sector was to receive Working at Heights (WAH) training which became mandatory in April 2015. The sad part in that the training must be taken and adhered to. Mr. Clothier had no intention to comply. If he had read the construction regulations, he would know this!
By the way, it doesn’t matter if he reads the regulations or not. He is still responsible for the safety of his workers.
Ensure your company is compliant!
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.
Ensure your workplace is a safe place.
Remember – In Ontario, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
CEO & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.