Excerpt from the government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’
Lafleur de la Capitale Inc., a landscaping and property services company, has pleaded guilty and has been fined $100,000 after a worker was killed in a fall from the ledge of the parking lot ramp of the National Gallery of Canada.
On August 27, 2013, Lafleur workers were attending to the gallery property on Sussex Drive in Ottawa; the company was under contract to perform the work. A worker was walking up the entrance ramp of the underground parking facility when a car approached the ramp. As the car approached, the worker moved to the side of the inclined entrance ramp. Stepping back, the worker fell backwards about 15 feet to the lower level of the exit ramp on the other side of the entrance ramp. The worker died at the scene as a result of the injuries sustained in the fall.
A Ministry of Labour investigation found that Lafleur de la Capitale failed to do a risk assessment at the worksite to identify hazards related to the work; a proper risk assessment would have identified the hazard of falling along the ramps and at the open side of the flowerbeds. Corrective measures such as fall arrest devices or guardrails would have prevented the fall. Workers had not been provided with fall arrest devices or a fall restraint system when they were at the open side of the flowerbeds and near the walls of the ramp; as such, the employer failed to ensure its workers were protected from the hazard of falling at the worksite.
Lafleur de la Capitale Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker, contrary to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and was fined $100,000 by Justice of the Peace Louisette Girault in Ottawa court on June 24, 2015.
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) of a contravention:
Lafleur de la Capitale Inc. was found guilty of a contravention of section 25, subsection 2(h) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, (OHSA) which states,
An employer shall,
“Take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker.”
The new ‘Working at Heights’ legislation was not in place in 2013. Too bad, too! Hazard recognition is supposed to be the first thing an employer or constructor or contractor is supposed to complete before any work is to be done.
I would certainly recommend that any and all employers, including those outside of the ‘construction’ sector, receive this new training to better understand all the responsibilities in the recognition, assessment and control of fall hazards.
Too late for the employer, but maybe the fine will give others a pause to consider if the employees are protected or if changes are necessary to ensure a proper safety culture is fused into all aspects of the business.
HRS Group Inc. stands ready to deliver ‘Working at Heights’ for your organization. (We are an approved provider) Ask us how a group rate can better serve your company’s financial needs.
Ensure your workplace is a safe place.
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.
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.