Company and Supervisor Fined $130,000 Total After Worker Killed

Toronto, ON - 2021960 Ontario Inc., carrying on business as New Forest Paper Mills LP, was fined $125,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was killed. A supervisor, Morteza Alemi, was fined $5,000 in relation to the same incident.

On July 12, 2010, a maintenance worker at the company's Toronto facility was working on a sprinkler system from a ladder that was on a platform about five meters high. Mr. Alemi was holding the ladder. When a blast of water came through the sprinkler, the worker lost balance and fell to the concrete floor, suffering fatal injuries.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the worker was not wearing a safety belt and harness.

2021960 Ontario Inc., carrying on business as New Forest Paper Mills LP, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the worker was wearing a fall arrest system. Mr. Alemi pleaded guilty to the same.

The fines were imposed by Justice of the Peace Karin Dresher. 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

                                    70 Centre Ave.

                                    Toronto, ON

Judge:                         Justice of the Peace Karin Dresher

Date of Sentencing:    October 13, 2011

Defendant:                  2021960 Ontario Inc. carrying on business as New Forest Paper Mills LP

Matter:                        Occupational Health and Safety

Conviction:                 Ontario Regulation 851, Section 85

Crown Counsel:          Tom Schneider

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