Failed to ensure adequate instruction of each worker
On March 13, Kitnuna Projects and Best Choice Construction appeared in the Nunavut Court of Justice in Iqaluit and were each sentenced for offences under the Nunavut Safety Act.
Kitnuna Projects pleaded guilty for failing to take all reasonable precautions and carry out all reasonable techniques to ensure the health and safety of every person in the establishment. Best Choice Construction pleaded guilty for failing to ensure the adequate instruction of each worker in the safe performance of their duties.
The Nunavut Court of Justice accepted the guilty pleas and entered convictions against each company. Kitnuna Projects was sentenced to a fine of $52,173.91 and a victim of crime surcharge of $7,826.09. Best Choice Construction was sentenced to a fine of $15,000 and a victim of crime surcharge of $1,000. The remaining charges against Kitnuna Projects and Best Choice Construction were withdrawn, as were all the charges against the other accused.
The convictions stem from an incident on Aug. 18, 2015 in which a worker employed by Best Choice Construction was injured while working at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) site in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut.
“Workplace incidents are always preventable. Employers must take the time to train workers and outline potential hazards to ensure a safe workplace for all,” said Dave Grundy, president and CEO of the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. “All workers – whether new, young, or returning – must be fully trained in safe work procedures and how to safely operate equipment and machinery before they begin work. If a worker is ever unsure, it is their right to refuse unsafe work.”
Source: Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut
