Roofing company charged under Occupational Health and Safety Act

The Department of Labour announced today that charges have been laid against Atlantic Roofing Company (1996) Limited of St. John�s for alleged violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations.

The charges were laid by the department�s Occupational Health and Safety Division following inspections that were conducted on different occasions, at separate work sites, where the company was doing roof work. On each occasion, stop work orders were issued and appropriate corrective measures were required to be implemented prior to the work being allowed to resume.

While the charges do not stem from any workplace accident, they were deemed warranted given the serious nature of the repeated deficiencies, which is consistent with the Department of Labour�s zero tolerance approach to particular high hazard safety violations.

The company has been charged with 11 violations relating to fall protection provisions, which are essential requirements for the protection of workers required to work at heights.

The company was charged on February 2, 2004 at Provincial Court in St. John�s. The first court appearance is scheduled for March 2, 2004.

Media contact: Sonia B. Glover, Communications, (709) 729-2575

2004 02 12                                        3:15 p.m.