AGF Raymond Rebar Inc. Fined $110,000 After Worker injured

March 30, 2011 3:00 PM

Ottawa, ON - AGF Raymond Rebar Inc., an Ottawa construction company, was fined $110,000 yesterday for violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured.

On July 23, 2008, workers were at a tower construction project on Kent St. in Ottawa. They were preparing to hoist two structures made of reinforcing bar, or rebar, with a crane. The rebar structures were sitting one on top of the other. The workers attached the bottom rebar structure to the crane but did not secure the top structure. As the crane lifted both structures, the load shifted and the unsecured structure fell on a worker. The worker suffered multiple fractures and damage to internal organs.

AGF Raymond Rebar Inc. was found guilty of failing to ensure that the crane's rigging was arranged to prevent the top rebar structure from slipping or falling. The company was fined $80,000 for this offense.

AGF Raymond Rebar Inc. was also found guilty of failing to provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker on preventing a hoisted object from slipping or falling. The company was fined $30,000 for this offense.

The fines were imposed by Justice of the Peace John A. Balkwill. In addition to the fines, 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 Cres.

Judge: Justice of the Peace John A. Balkwill

Date of Sentencing: March 29, 2011

Defendants: AGF Raymond Rebar Inc.

Matter: Occupational Health and Safety

Conviction: Ontario Regulation 213/91, Section 172(1)(c)

Occupational Health and Safety Act, Section 25(2)(a)

Crown Counsel: Courtney Harris

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