Worker fell through roof during replacement project in Brantford, Ontario
Two companies have been fined a combined $300,000 after pleading guilty in relation to the accidental death of a worker in April 2021. Upfield Canada produces plant-based food products and was ordered to pay $125,000 while Provincial Industrial Roofing and Sheet Metal Company Limited was fined $175,000.
The incident happened at Upfield Canada Inc’s commercial property in Brantford, Ontario while work was being done to replace the roof. Upfield Canada hired Provincial Industrial Roofing and Sheet Metal Company to demolish the old roof and replace it with a new one.
The project required removing the existing flat-roof system, including the concrete deck and membrane materials. The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development says workers used roof cutters to cut the membrane materials into smaller chunks to be removed. Then the concrete roof deck was swept and cleared of debris.
The worker fell to his death while “pushing a wheelbarrow of debris towards the disposal chute when the concrete roof deck panel beneath them collapsed,” says the Ministry.
Upfield Canada pleaded guilty to failing as a constructor to protect workers from the hazard of falling through the roof, contrary to 23(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Provincial Industrial Roofing and Sheet Metal Company pleaded guilty to failing as an employer to “take the reasonable precaution of ensuring that a worker was protected from the hazard of falling through the roof,” which the Ministry says contradicts section 25(2)(h) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The court also imposed a 25 percent victim surcharge fine to be credited to a provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
