Contractor and City Face Occupational Health and Safety Charges

The Department of Government Services announced today that Weir’s Construction Ltd. and the City of Mount Pearl have been charged with violations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations in relation to an incident that occurred in September 2009. The charges are the result of an investigation by the Occupational Health and Safety Branch.

The incident occurred on Park Avenue in Mount Pearl, and involved a Weir’s Construction Ltd. worker who was struck by a car and subsequently admitted to hospital due to his injuries. At the time, the worker was performing flagperson duties for a paving operation.

The contractor has been charged with three violations. They relate generally to the alleged failure as an employer to provide a safe workplace and to ensure that appropriate traffic control procedures were followed during road maintenance activities.

The city is charged with the alleged failure to ensure as principal contractor, that the contractor they hired to do the work complied with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations.

The first appearance is scheduled for October 6, 2011 at Provincial Court in St. John’s.

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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 09 20                                                                           9:40 a.m.