Excerpts From the Government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’
AGF Raymond Rebar Inc., an Ottawa construction company, was fined $110,000 on March 29 for violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured.
On July 23, 2008, workers were at a tower construction project on Kent St. in Ottawa. They were preparing to hoist two structures made of reinforcing bar, or rebar, with a crane. The rebar structures were sitting one on top of the other. The workers attached the bottom rebar structure to the crane but did not secure the top structure. As the crane lifted both structures, the load shifted and the unsecured structure fell on a worker. The worker suffered multiple fractures and damage to internal organs.
AGF Raymond Rebar Inc. was found guilty of failing to ensure that the crane’s rigging was arranged to prevent the top rebar structure from slipping or falling. The company was fined $80,000 for this offense.
AGF Raymond Rebar Inc. was also found guilty of failing to provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker on preventing a hoisted object from slipping or falling. The company was fined $30,000 for this offense.
The fines were imposed by Justice of the Peace John A. Balkwill. In addition to the fines, 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:
AGF Raymond Rebar was in contravention of the Ontario Regulations 213/91 (Construction) section 172,(1)(c)
“A container, sling or similar device for rigging or hoisting an object, including its fittings and attachments shall be so arranged as to prevent the object or any part of the object from slipping or falling.”
They were also charged and convicted on Section 25, subsection 2(a),
“The employer shall provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect the health and safety of the worker.”
Proper training might have changed the course for the safety of this employee. Crane training covers a planned lift and the proper use and maintenance of slings.
Slings come in all types and sizes. There are web slings, chain slings and rope slings. These three include 90% of all slings.
The practical component of any crane training covers the planned lift. The crane operator patiently calculates the combined weight of the lift and locates the centre of gravity and safely applies the slings, making sure that shock loading is not an issue. The object is hoisted up slowly, with a signalman controlling speed, direction and height. It would be here the signalman recognizes a shift in the sling and aborts the lift. No one actually noticed anything and the planned lift failed. The operator could easily have been charged as not living up to the competency standards as required for most training. How could one miss an upper section not secured!
I also wonder where the supervisor was during the lift. Helping someone else?
Hmm…
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs including construction lifting and rigging. Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.
We can also be reached at info@hrsgroup.com
Remember — In Ontario, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Foundation Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.
Thanks for the reference, this is exactly what I need for my project.
Thanks for your great article! It has been extremely helpful. I wish that you will continue sharing your wisdom with us.
Hi, nice blog.
I want to thank you for all the great information you are providing.
Great blog. Awesome information.
I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I do not know who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you are not already ;) Cheers!
I want to thank you for all the great information you are providing.
That’s very good.
Good for you.
I think I have accessed your world. So great, bless you!
Thank you for sharing this information. This information is very helpful, saving me a lot of time.
I want to thank you for all the great information you are providing.
I want to thank you for all the great information you are providing.
Really great post, I’ll definitelly come back on your website.
I like what I see here.
Very interesting ideas! I’ll be back for your new articles!
Like it … very well pointed!
Well, I read all your posts for now…I’ll come back tomorow for more great posts!
Very interesting ideas! I’ll be back for your new articles!
Well, I read all your posts for now…I’ll come back tomorow for more great posts!
I want to thank you for all the great information you are providing.
You are an amazing blogger!
I want to thank you for all the great information you are providing.
This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your fantastic post. Also, I’ve shared your web site in my social networks!
Very interesting topic, not so sure what I think yet. You really seem to have mastered your craft though. Well done!
Nice topic — respect !
Nice topic.
You are an excellent blogger.
I want to thank you for all the great information you are providing.
There seems to be a lot of comments here. Nicely done!
Thank you for this great information.
Nicely done!
Finally, someone who gets it!
I love what you do here.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
I needed to thank you.
I want to thank you for all the great information you are providing.
I want to thank you for all the great information you are providing.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
I’m extremely impressed with your writing talents neatly as with the structure to your weblog. Is that this a paid topic or did you modify it yourself? Anyway stay up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to look a nice weblog like this one these days..