Ottawa, Ont. - Vitrerie Lessard Inc., a Quebec manufacturer and installer of windows and other glass and aluminum designs, was fined $65,000 on September 14, 2009, for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) after a worker was injured.

On December 11, 2007, workers were installing windows on an apartment building in Ottawa.  They were working from a suspended platform just below the second floor.  One worker, who was about to step down to the platform from the second floor slab, had a lifeline tied to a nearby window frame.  The worker untied the lifeline and it sprang out of grasp.  The worker lunged for it and fell through the space between the building and the suspended platform.  The worker suffered a broken arm and pelvis.

Vitrerie Lessard Inc. pleaded guilty under the OHSA to failing to provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker on the safe use of a suspended platform.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Brian Mackey.  In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act.  The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

Court Information at a Glance

Location:                    Ontario Court of Justice

                                    100 Constellation Dr.

                                    Ottawa, Ontario

Judge:                        

Justice of the Peace Brian Mackey

Date of Conviction:

September 14, 2009

Defendants:

Vitrerie Lessard Inc.

Matter:                      

Occupational Health and Safety

Conviction:

OHSA, Section 25(2)(a)

Crown Counsel:

Linda Chen