Company owner sentenced in St. John�s Provincial Court

The Department of Government Services announced today that Ted Penney was sentenced in Provincial Court on April 28, 2006 upon pleading guilty to a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act. Charges were laid in March 2005 as a result of inspections carried out by OHS Division officers into demolition work which occurred at the former Fred Kirby school site in Foxtrap in February and March 2004. In addition to Mr. Penney, his business partner and two contracting companies he owned were also charged.

Following the Crown�s presentation of an agreed statement of facts, Mr. Penney pled guilty to the charge of failing to comply with Stop Work Orders written between February 27, 2004 and March 1, 2004. These orders were written by the officers and pertained to inadequate safety procedures being followed at the demolition site, as well as inadequate measures being taken to address the potential hazards of exposure to asbestos. Work was not to proceed until the OHS Division was satisfied that the hazards were assessed and suitable precautions taken.

Mr. Penney was fined $5,000 on the single count. All other charges against him, his business partner, and his two contracting companies were withdrawn.

Media contact: Vanessa Colman Sadd, Communications, (709) 729-4860, 682-6593

2006 05 30                             3:00 p.m.