Excerpt from the OH&S Canada magazine
The death of a 56 year old employee four years ago has resulted in an Alberta pipe-coating company receiving penalties totaling $300,000. Garneau Inc., based in Nisku, Alberta, was cited for breaching requirements of Alberta’s Occupational Health & Safety Act.
The deadly incident occurred in June, 2006. Sidney Edwards was working at Garneau’s facility in Camrose, Alberta.
An agreed statement of facts filed with the provincial court notes that large pieces of pipe — weighing between 4,773 kg. and 5,682 kg. — were being moved across a series of five racks. Each rack was equipped with a kicker, or a hydraulic piston that would allow a pipe to roll to the next rack. The tally operator was responsible for moving the pipe to the third rack, at which point Edwards was to transport the pipe to another rack.
At about 4:30 pm on June 13, 2006, the tally operator activated a kicker and this caused one or more pieces of pipe to roll toward the rack where Edwards was located. His head was crushed between two pieces of rolling pipe, resulting in fatal injuries.
Garneau pleaded guilty to failing to do the following:
1) Establish a system that would account for all workers before pieces of pipe were moved;
2) Implement a procedure to ensure that all racks are clear of workers before kickers are activated; and
3) Provide a notification to alert workers that a pipe is being moved.
The procedures that they had in place was insufficient to ensure that the pipe could be moved safely,” says Brian Caruk, acting chief Crown prosecutor for Alberta. Since the deadly incident, the company has implemented a series of measures to enhance employee protection.
Garneau was fined $10,000 and directed to provide $290,000 to the University of Alberta’s engineering program.
My opinion
You may, finally, be getting the message and will increasing the fines going forward. However, the “directed” $290,000 to the engineering department at the University of Alberta sounds like another example of how not to upset the companies out there. What time table has been set for payment? Is the “directed”monies set up enforceable. The only fine really listed here is one of $10,000. It makes one wonder how fast the engineering department sees the money, if any, now or in the future. Does this mean the official fine is really only $10,000? Really, what a joke!
Remember — In Ontario, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Foundation Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.
Thank you for the great information.
I like the helpful info. you provide in your articles. I will bookmark your blog and check again here frequently. I’m quite sure I will learn lots of new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!
I just stumbled upon the blog and enjoyed what I have read.
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right!
Hey, this is really nice information. I was looking for something similar to this. Thanks for this useful information.
Good, interesting site. I invite all to enjoy the content.
While this subject can be very touchy for most people, my opinion is that there has to be a middle or common ground that we all can find. I do appreciate that youve added relevant and intelligent commentary here though. Thank you! In fact, they still do work.
Hi I love your post and it was so good and I am definitely going to bookmark it.
I really like reading and I believe this website got some truly utilitarian stuff on it!
Sweet blog Crow. I enjoy reading about your thought’s and stuff you do (even though I kinda already know). Please tell me when you have made a new blog entry, or a new blog.
Hey this is really nice information. I was looking for something similar like this. Thanks for this useful information.
I discovered your blog site on google and check a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you later on!…
Can I simply say that it is nice to seek out somebody who actually is aware of what they’re talking about on the internet. You definitely know methods to bring an issue to light and make it important. People have to read this and perceive this aspect of the story. I can’t consider you’re not more common since you definitely have the gift.
I can’t imagine you’re not more well-liked because you positively have the gift.
It is a good article to increase knowledge.
I’ll be back!
Excellent post with some good info, think I’ll share this on my twitter if you don’t mind and maybe even blogroll it depending on the feedback, thanks for sharing.
I liked reading your blog, I’ll be back.
Great articles friend! Real webmasters should always create a website with articles of compelling content.