Guilty plea entered as a result of charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act

Woodward�s Limited has pleaded guilty to two violations of the Occupational Health and Safety legislation stemming from the demolition of the Chaytor Building in St. Anthony. During the demolition of the building, a worker was fatally injured when he fell from the roof of the partially dismantled building in September of 2000.

The company plead guilty to Section 10 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for their failure as principal contractor to ensure that employers and workers on the demolition project were complying with Occupational Health and Safety legislation. They also plead guilty to Section 60 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations for their failure, as an employer, to ensure their workers utilized a fall protection system on the continuation of the demolition after the accident that took the life of a worker. Three other charges were withdrawn by the Crown as a result of the plea agreement.

Using the legislation�s creative sentencing options, Woodward�s Limited has been ordered to:

1. pay the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador a fine in the amount of $7,000

2. fund the presentation of a two-day Fall Protection Seminar in each of St. Anthony and Happy Valley-Goose Bay for the benefit of 60 participants (at no cost to participants)

3. publish in the Labradorian and the Northern Pen, on at least three occasions in each publication, ads promoting worker safety.

The company also voluntarily had one of its employees attend a CSA "Train the Trainer" session in Toronto on fall protection prior to the case conclusion so it was not included in the Court Order.

Labour Minister Percy Barrett said today he is pleased with the final outcome of this case noting that substantial training and awareness benefits will be seen from this sentence.

Minister Barrett said: "Up to 60 workers will receive fall protection training as a result of this sentence which represents a considerable benefit in terms of safety training. In addition, the awareness created from publishing safety ads will assist in promoting safer workplaces and may, in fact, help prevent a similar tragedy from occurring in the future."

Woodward�s Limited is required to complete all items contained in the Court Order by December 31, 2003.

Media contact: Janice Lockyer, Communications, (709) 729-1741

2003 06 09                                       4:00 p.m.