July 4, 2013
Investigation Results in Occupational Health and Safety Charges
Service NL announced today that three employers involved in a July 2011 highway incident have been charged with violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations. The employers are the provincial Department of Transportation and Works, the City of St. John’s and Irving Oil. The charges are the result of an investigation by the Occupational Health and Safety Branch.
The incident occurred on the Outer Ring Road near St. John’s on July 5, 2011, and resulted in fatal injuries to a Department of Transportation and Works employee, as well as serious injuries to a City of St. John’s employee and an Irving Oil employee. Other workers in the same area were not injured. At the time, the group was inspecting the road surface in relation to concerns raised over asphalt pavement deterioration.
All three employers have been charged with the same six counts that allege generally that there was a failure to:
- Provide a safe workplace;
- Provide instruction and supervision;
- Provide the necessary protective clothing and devices;
- Ensure safe work procedures were followed;
- Ensure work procedures promote the safe interaction of workers and their work environment; and,
- Ensure effective traffic control was provided.
The Department of Transportation and Works and the City of St. John’s were also charged with a seventh count of allegedly failing to conduct their undertaking in a manner that protects other employers’ workers.
The first appearance for all employers is scheduled for July 30, 2013 at Provincial Court in St. John’s.
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Media contact:
Vanessa Colman-Sadd
Director of Communications
Service NL
709-729-4860, 682-6593
vanessacolmansadd@gov.nl.ca
2013 07 04 12:10 p.m.