Zero tolerance for work-related falls

REGINA — Owners of two roofing companies have been fined under Saskatchewan’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulations in connection with separate workplace inspections last year.

Mark Thomson, owner of Thomson Roofing in Regina, and Justin Fall, owner of Moose Jaw-based Advanced Roofing, were each fined $1,560 after routine inspections revealed fall-related hazards on their respective work sites.

On June 9, Thomson pleaded guilty to three charges, notes a statement from Saskatchewan’s labour ministry in Regina. He received two $300 fines for failing to provide to workers and require that they use protective headwear and protective footwear, respectively, and $600 for failing to ensure workers use a fall protection system where a worker may fall three metres or more. A victim fine surcharge was applied to each of the three penalties.

A fourth charge, citing the failure to have in place a fall protection plan, was stayed.

About a week later, Fall was handed an identical penalty after pleading guilty to three counts under the regulations. He failed to ensure the following: a ladder was used by workers, resulting in a $300 fine; use of a fall protection system where a worker may fall three metres or more, leading to a $600 penalty; and a written fall protection plan was in place, producing a $300 fine. Again, victim fine surcharges were applied on all three counts, and two additional charges were stayed.

The provincial labour ministry has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to non-compliance or violations of fall protection requirements.