Blog Post #377 – Stefcon Construction Inc. Fined $50,000 after Worker Injured

Excerpt from the government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’

Stefcon Construction Inc., a Concord masonry and bricklaying contractor, was fined $50,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured.

On June 1, 2010, the company was performing masonry work at a commercial construction project on Regent St. in Toronto. A worker was dismantling a scaffold when the worker tripped on debris that was left on the scaffold’s second level. The worker fell over three meters to the ground below and suffered a back injury.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the worker was not wearing any fall protection at the time of the incident.

Stefcon Construction Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the worker was adequately protected by a form of fall protection while exposed to the falling hazard.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace D. Keith Currie. In addition to the fine, the court 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:

Stefcon Construction Inc. was found guilty of violating section 26.1 (2) of the Ontario ‘Construction’ regulation 213/91 which states,

“If it is not reasonably possible to install a guardrail system as the subsection requires, a worker shall be adequately protected by at least one of the following methods of protection:

1) A travel restraint system that meets the requirements
2) A fall restricting system that meets the requirements
3) A fall arrest system, other than a fall restricting system that meets the requirements

Section 26 of the Ontario ‘Construction’ regulation 213/91 is the largest section, in any of the four large sector regulations, that is entirely devoted to ‘Fall Protection’. If the reader needs to build a ‘Fall Protection’ program in their own workplace or would like more information concerning ‘Fall Protection’ (which covers ‘Fall Prevention’ and ‘Fall Arrest’) please go to the blog and review the 8 part series I created (around the August-September 2011 time frame) and use it to review and improve your company’s ‘Fall Protection’ program. I put it together for that particular purpose.

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 ‘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

‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.

Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Foundation Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.