Roofing company sentenced for health and safety violations

The Department of Government Services announced today that Atlantic Roofing Company Limited of St. John�s has been sentenced in provincial court for violations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The company has been fined $16,000 and ordered to fund safety seminars and fall protection courses to a maximum of $10,500.

The charges were laid by the Occupational Health and Safety Division following inspections on different occasions, and at separate work sites, in March and May of 2002. Stop work orders were issued, and corrective measures required.

Atlantic Roofing Company Limited pleaded guilty to four charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations. The charges related to failing to ensure adequate fall protection was used, and failing to provide information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure workers� safety.

The remaining seven charges against the company were withdrawn.

The sentence agreed to by the parties is a fine of $4,000 per count, for a total of $16,000. The company must also fund three, flat-roof safety seminars in St. John�s, Gander, and Corner Brook. The company must also deliver several, two-day fall protection users courses for all its site employees, and all new employees hired over the next 24 months must attend an equivalent course.

The charges did not stem from a workplace accident, but they are consistent with the department�s zero tolerance approach to high hazard safety violations.

Media contact: Tracy Barron, Communications, (709) 729-4860 or 690-6157.

2004 04 01                                        1:30 p.m.