Springside Paving & Construction Limited Fined $100,000 After Worker Killed

Newmarket, Ont. - Springside Paving & Construction Limited, a Woodbridge paving company, was fined $100,000 for a violation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was killed.

On July 13, 2009, three workers from the paving company were working at a residential property in Vaughan. They were asked to remove and replace the asphalt driveway and re-level the interlocking walkway in front of the property. After they disconnected a trailer from their truck, a worker got into the vehicle and slowly reversed it towards the work site. The truck ran over and killed another worker.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found there was no signaller present when the truck was reversing. A signaller is a worker assigned to maintain a clear view of the vehicle's path.

Springside Paving & Construction Limited pleaded guilty to failing as an employer to ensure that the vehicle operator was assisted by a signaller if the operator's view of the intended path of travel is obstructed of if a person may be endangered.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Rhonda Shousterman. 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

                                    465 Davis Drive

                                    Newmarket, Ontario

Judge:                         Justice of the Peace Rhonda Shousterman

Date of Conviction:     February 14, 2011

Defendants:                Springside Paving & Construction

Matter:                        Occupational Health and Safety

Conviction(s):              Ontario Regulation 213/91, Section 104(3)

Crown Counsel:          Jai Dhar

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