Roofer banned from construction industry by Ontario court due to multiple safety violations
December 7, 2023
By
Todd Humber
(David Smith/Adobe Stock)
A roofer in Belleville, Ont., with a history of safety violations has been forced out of the construction business permanently by an Ontario court.
Steven Bell, sole proprietor of a roofing company, was given a suspended sentence — subject to a probationary order — that strips him of the right to work or employ anyone, directly or indirectly, in the construction industry.
What happened
On Sept. 5, 2020, a ministry inspector arrived at a roofing project for a two-storey multi-unit residence in the City of Quinte West, Ont.
The employer was on site, along with two workers. The inspector noticed that one of the workers was on the pitched roof of the structure, over three metres from the ground below, without any fall protection.
Section 26.1(2) of Ontario Regulation 213/91 (Construction Projects) states that a worker who is exposed to a fall of greater than three metres must use an approved method of fall protection. Section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act states that an employer must ensure all the regulations are followed at the workplace.
By failing to ensure workers wore appropriate fall protection equipment, Bell violated the Act.
History of violations, even jail time
Bell had four previous convictions under the Act:
On March 11, 2013, a ministry inspector observed three roofers in Belleville, employed by Bell, working at a height of more than three metres without being protected by fall protection. There were no injuries. The $2,000 fine for that conviction has not been paid.
On Nov. 16, 2013, a ministry inspector observed four roofers in Belleville, employed by Bell, working at a height of more than three metres without being protected by fall protection. There were no injuries. A $4,500 fine was levied, of which $900 remains unpaid.
On Oct. 7, 2015, a ministry inspector observed a roofer in the City of Quinte West, employed by Bell, working at a height of more than three metres without being protected by fall protection. There were no injuries. For that offence, Bell was sentenced to one day of imprisonment and fined $10,000, which has not been paid.
On July 22, 2017, a ministry inspector observed a roofer in Belleville, and employed by Bell, working at a height of more than three metres without being protected by fall protection. There were no injuries. For that offence, Bell was sentenced to seven days of imprisonment.
