October 9, 2019 3:15 P.M.
Convicted: K-Line Maintenance and Construction Limited, 12731 Highway 48, Stouffville, Ontario, a company that provides high voltage electrical construction and power services.
Location: The Burlington Canal Vertical Lift Bridge in Burlington, Ontario.
Description of Offence: A worker was critically injured when a rope broke and struck workers.
Date of Offence: July 6, 2016.
Date of Sentencing: October 8, 2019.
Penalty Imposed:
- Following a trial, K-Line Maintenance and Construction Limited was fined $150,000 by Justice of the Peace Michael Barnes in provincial court in Burlington; Crown Counsel Jai Dhar and Graeme Adams.
- The court also 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.
Background:
- The incident took place at the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge where K-Line workers were present.
- A rope was being used to pull a cable assembly to replace cabling over top of the span of the bridge.
- The rope being pulled by a puller/tensioner truck broke. This caused the cable to fling back over the bridge, striking multiple workers.
- One worker was critically injured.
- The company was found guilty of failing as an employer to ensure that the equipment, materials and protective devices provided by the employer were maintained in good condition, contrary to section 25(1)(b) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.