Charges laid in Provincial Court in Stephenville  

The Department of Government Services announced today that a company and an individual, contracted by the company to complete work, have been charged with alleged violations of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act in relation to a renovation project that took place in Stephenville in June and July of 2004.  

The alleged violations occurred at a building in Stephenville that was being converted into apartments.  The charges are the result of an investigation by the Occupational Health and Safety Branch.  

10503 Newfoundland Limited, trading as Callahan�s Contracting, has been charged with three violations of the Asbestos Abatement Regulations 1998 and one violation of the OHS Act.  Those under the Asbestos Abatement Regulations 1998 relate generally to the company�s failure to ensure that materials suspected of containing asbestos were handled as such, to ensure an assessment was made in writing of the likelihood of exposure to asbestos, and to ensure that appropriate procedures were in place to minimize exposure to asbestos.  The charge under the OHS Act pertains to the company�s failure as a principal contractor to ensure that a worker performing work in respect of the project complied with the OHS legislation.  

The charge against the individual resulted from that person allegedly carrying out asbestos abatement work without being the holder of a valid asbestos abatement contractor�s certificate, contrary to the Asbestos Abatement Regulations, 1998.  

The first appearance is scheduled for July 11, 2006 at Provincial Court in Stephenville.  

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

2006 06 29                                                        9:30 a.m.