Service NL
May 20, 2014

Drilling Company Sentenced for OHS Violations

Service NL announced today that CABO Drilling (Atlantic) Corporation was sentenced in Grand Falls-Windsor Provincial Court on April 11, 2014 upon pleading guilty to two violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Charges were laid in March 2013 following an investigation carried out by the Occupational Health and Safety Division.

The incident occurred at the Duck Pond Mine Site, approximately 80 kilometres from Badger, and involved a worker who suffered severe burns to his face and hands when the drilling machine he was operating caught fire.

The company pleaded guilty to the charges of failure to provide and maintain a safe workplace and the necessary equipment, systems and tools that are safe and without risk to the health of workers, and failure to provide the necessary information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure the safety of workers.

Fines for each charge were $20,000, for a total fine of $40,000, plus a 15 per cent victim fine surcharge. In addition to these fines, the company is to make a $10,000 contribution to the Minister of Service NL for the purpose of public education. The remaining six charges against the company were withdrawn as part of the plea agreement.

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

2014 05 20         10:15 a.m.