SAFETY ALERT!
In April 2014, a large construction company was fined more than $180,000 under the Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulations for the avoidable death of an employee.
The worker was hired through a contractor to dismantle a Quonset structure and was struck by a 10-foot metal rod when the fabric ripped from a large tent panel they were working on.
The company failed to identify, communicate and control hazards. They also didn’t make sure the contracted workers had written safe work procedures for the dismantling of the Quonset.
Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulations – protect workers and other persons from risks to their safety, health, and welfare arising from workplace activities.
Key Lessons to Learn*
1. Safe Work Procedures should be developed and trained for the greater good of your workers and your company NOT because “it’s the law”.
2. Most deaths and serious incidents result from failure to identify, communicate and control hazards. Meaningful hazard assessments are for you and your people, NOT because “it’s the law”.
3. Prime Contractors must ensure that sub-contractors ensure that work will be performed in compliance with the WSH Act and Regulations. Just because subs are “COR Certified” DOES NOT mean they are in compliance. Contractors (those who hire contracted and self-employed workers and direct their work) must ensure that workers are not exposed to unnecessary risk that is within the control of the contractor.
Note: Bill C45 – is federal legislation that amended the Canadian Criminal Code and became law on March 31, 2004. The Bill established new legal duties for workplace health and safety, and imposed serious penalties for violations that result in injuries
or death. The Bill provided new rules for attributing criminal liability to organizations, including corporations, their representatives and those who direct the work of others.
Workplace injury can lead to action from Workplace Safety and Health.
So let’s be careful out there.
© Federated Insurance Company of Canada. All rights reserved.
*Source: Largest Workplace Safety Fine in Manitoba History Under New Crown Attorney, 1Life Workplace Safety and Health, May 1 2014