Service NL
February 27, 2013

Corner Brook Construction Company Faces OHS Charges in Provincial Court

Service NL announced today that Johnson’s Construction Limited and a company supervisor have been charged with violations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations in relation to a fatal accident that occurred in December 2010. The charges are the result of an investigation by the Occupational Health and Safety Branch.

The incident occurred at a construction camp located approximately 50 kilometres from Forteau on the Trans Labrador Highway. It involved a company employee who was doing maintenance work on the water supply system for the camp. He suffered fatal injuries when a pressurized water tank ruptured nearby.

The company has been charged with five violations which allege that it failed to ensure that it provided and maintained a safe workplace and that sufficient instruction and training were provided. The company is also charged for failing to ensure that equipment was capable of safely performing its functions and that the equipment was used and maintained according to manufacturer’s instructions.

The supervisor was charged with failing to ensure the health and safety of all workers under his supervision and failing to provide proper written or oral instructions regarding precautions to be taken.

The first appearance for both was Tuesday, February 12. The second appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, March 20, at Provincial Court in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

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Media contact:
Vanessa Colman-Sadd
Director of Communications
Service NL
709-729-4860, 682-6593
vanessacolmansadd@gov.nl.ca

2013 02 27                    11:25 a.m.