Company and Supervisor Sentenced in Corner Brook Provincial Court

Service NL announced today that Atlantic Minerals Limited and a company supervisor were sentenced in Corner Brook Provincial Court on December 13 upon pleading guilty to violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Charges were laid in December 2012 following an investigation carried out by the Occupational Health and Safety Branch.

The incident occurred at the company facility at Brake’s Cove in June 2011 and involved a worker whose right hand was crushed when the press portion of a concrete block machine activated unexpectedly. The victim’s hand injuries resulted in the surgical amputation of one finger.

The company pleaded guilty to the following charges:

• Failure to provide a safe workplace;
• Failure to ensure that equipment was fitted with adequate safeguards that prevent access to a hazardous point of operation; and,
• Failure to ensure that the energy source was isolated where the unexpected start-up of machinery could cause injury.

Fines for each charge were $7,000 for a total fine of $21,000, plus a victim fine surcharge. In addition, the company is to make a $2,000 contribution to the Minister of Service NL for the purpose of public education. The remaining two charges against the company were withdrawn as part of the plea agreement.

The supervisor pleaded guilty to the charge of failure to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all workers under his supervision. He was fined $2,000, plus a victim fine surcharge. The remaining charge against him was withdrawn.

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

2013 12 18             10:25 a.m.