City of Barrie Fined $50,000 After Worker Injured
March 3, 2010 4:10 PM
Barrie, Ont. - The Corporation of the City of Barrie was fined $50,000 yesterday for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) that caused an injury to a worker.
On October 22, 2008, the city was repairing a sewer line on Clute Cres. A subcontractor dug a trench and workers from the city used a vacuum truck to suck dirt up and away from the sewer line. They were having trouble exposing the pipe, so a worker descended into the trench. One of the walls of the trench collapsed onto the worker. The worker suffered spinal injuries.
A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the trench was not sloped and its walls were not supported.
The Corporation of the City of Barrie pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the walls of the trench were held up by a support system that complied with the requirements of the OHSA.
The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Ann Forfar. 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
56 Mulcaster Dr.
Barrie, Ont.
Judge: Justice of the Peace Ann Forfar
Date of Conviction: March 2, 2010
Defendant: The Corporation of the City of Barrie
Matter: Occupational Health and Safety
Conviction: Ontario Regulation 213/91, Section 234(1)
Crown Counsel: Sarah Loosemore
Contacts
- Matt Blajer
Communications Branch
416-326-7405
Ministry of Labour
ontario.ca/labour