Report from the government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’
A worker, employed by Sega Group Inc. of Navan, Ontario, an electrical contracting company providing powerline and utility services, was injured when a concrete streetlight post toppled during hoisting. The company failed, as an employer, to ensure that the measures and procedures prescribed by section 150(2)(a) of Ontario Regulation 213/91 (Construction Projects) were carried out, contrary to section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Sega Group Inc. was the constructor of a project to replace five existing concrete street light posts on the east side of Manotick Main Street, east of downtown Ottawa.
On the day of the incident, workers were removing the first post, which had a poured concrete base, making it very heavy.
To prevent the post from falling, the operator of a crane truck hoisted the post and attempted to lower it to the ground.
While lowering the post, the operator pressed the button that released the clamp holding the top of the post. The concrete post toppled and injured a nearby worker.
A Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development investigation determined that the operator did not have a crane training certificate and lacked sufficient experience and knowledge to operate the equipment.
Following a guilty plea in the Ontario Provincial Offences Court in Ottawa, the company was fined $50,000 by Justice of the Peace Andrew Seymour; Crown Counsel was Tianna Gomes.
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:
Sega Group Inc. was found guilty of a contravention of the Ontario ‘Construction Projects’ sector regulation 213/91, section 150, subsection 2(a) which states,
“No worker shall operate a crane or other hoisting device, other than one described in subsection (1), unless,
- the worker is trained in the safe operation of the crane or other hoisting device.”
This is contrary to the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), which states,
“An employer shall ensure that,
- the measures and procedures prescribed are carried out in the workplace.”
Training! Training! Training!
Key to “Competency Safety, in Ontario, is training!
If the reader cannot remember “Competent Person” the definition is listed below;
“Competent person” means a person who,
(a) is qualified because of knowledge, training and experience to organize the work and its performance,
(b) is familiar with this Act and the regulations that apply to the work, and
(c) has knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health or safety in the workplace.”
Ensure that any worker using machinery on a jobsite has received “Competency” training.
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs including ‘Due Diligence’ and ‘Safe Work Procedures’.
Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.
We can also be reached at
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.