Excerpt from the government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’
A worker, employed by Integrated Solutions Inc., of London, Ontario, a company that installs satellite dishes on residential roofs, was fatally injured by a fall while installing a satellite dish on the roof of a residence. By not ensuring the worker used fall protection while on the roof, Integrated Solutions Inc. failed to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker, contrary to section 25(2)(h) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
On October 21, 2020, a worker contracted by Integrated Solutions Inc. was installing a satellite dish on a residential roof.
The worker was securing a satellite cable near the bottom of the roof slope when they fell from the roof, suffering fatal injuries.
A Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development investigation found that the worker had not been using any form of fall protection.
Following a guilty plea in the Provincial Offences Court in Gore Bay, Integrated Solutions Inc. was fined $100,000 by Justice of the Peace Lori-Ann Toulouse; Crown Counsel was Wes Wilson.
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:
Integrated Solutions 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,
Take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of the worker.”
If we used the Ontario ‘Industrial Establishments’ sector regulation 851/90, we can find ‘Fall Protection’ sections.
Section 85 states,
“Where a worker is exposed to the hazard of falling and the surface to which he or she might fall is more than three metres below the position where he or she is situated,
(a) the worker shall wear a serviceable safety belt or harness and lifeline that is adequately secured to a fixed support and so arranged that the worker cannot fall freely for a vertical distance of more than 1.5 metres; and
(b) the fall arrest system described in clause (a) shall,
(i) have sufficient capacity to absorb twice the energy and twice the load that under the circumstances of its use may be transmitted to it, and
(ii) be equipped with a shock absorber or other devices to limit the maximum arresting force to 8.0 kilonewtons to the worker.”
I guess Integrated Solutions Inc. didn’t get the memo.
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 info@hrsgroup.com
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.