March 8, 1996
(Employment and Labour Relations)

Minister announces convictions for violations of Occupational Health and Safety legislation

Tom Murphy, Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, today announced that the Occupational Health and Safety Branch has recently obtained several convictions for violations of Occupational Health and Safety legislation.

On March 4, 1996, Weir's Construction Limited, Manuels, pled guilty and was fined $1100 on each of two charges laid under the authority of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. These charges were laid following an industrial accident in November 1994 in which a worker was injured during a cave-in at an excavation site.

The company pled guilty to violations of Sections 49(1)(b)(i)(ii) and 49(2)(a) of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. The company required its workers to enter an excavation site over four feet in depth which was neither safely sloped nor secured by other effective means. As well, the company failed to have a ladder available at the site for the workers.

This incident also resulted in charges laid against the equipment operator for violation of Section 49(2)(a) of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. The operator pled guilty and was fined $300 for allowing excavated material to remain within four feet of the edge of the trench excavation.

On January 15, 1996 the Iron Ore Company of Canada pled guilty and was fined $1,000 under the authority of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. These charges arose from an explosion in the Stamler Crusher on February 12, 1995 which injured one worker.

The company pled guilty to violation of Section 34(1)(a)(i) of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations which requires that compressed gas cylinders be located or protected so as to prevent physical damage to them. A propane cylinder was damaged and subsequently exploded during a maintenance shut down at the Stamler Crusher.

"While the department promotes education and awareness of workplace health and safety, it will not hesitate to prosecute for violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and/or Regulations," said the minister.

Contact: Jean Smith, (709) 729-2703.

1996 03 08 3:00 p.m. /md