Company Sentenced for Occupational Health and Safety
Violations in Wabush Provincial Court

The Department of Government Services announced today that Wabush Mines has been sentenced upon pleading guilty to violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The case arose as the result of an investigation by the Occupational Health and Safety Branch.

The incident occurred in June 2008 when an attachment tore away from a dryer, causing the equipment and hoist to fall. The worker suffered broken bones in the ankle and foot. The investigation resulted in five charges against the company under the act.

A plea agreement resulted in the company pleading guilty to two charges, with the other three being withdrawn. The two charges relate generally to the failure of the company to ensure that a hoist was operated in accordance with the appropriate standards and regulatory sections, and to provide the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure the health and safety of workers.

The court order requires the company to pay fines of $30,000 on each of the two charges, plus a victim fine surcharge, and a contribution of $20,000 to Threads of Life, a registered charity. The order also requires a company official to present to an occupational health and safety conference the details of a safety case currently being developed by the company.

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Media contact:
Hugh Donnan
Director of Communications
Department of Government Services
709-729-4860, 725-6511
hughdonnan@gov.nl.ca 

2011 07 26             9:40 a.m.