Worker walked backwards off roof of elementary school portable
A roofing company based in Brantford, Ontario has been fined $110,000 after a worker fell off a roof and died in July 2021.
Jackson Roofing & Son Contracting Inc. pleaded guilty to one violation of Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The incident happened while five workers were on the roof a portable classroom at an elementary school on July 30, 2021.
“None of the workers were wearing fall protection, nor were there guardrails or barriers around the roof perimeter of the portable,” says the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
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Two workers were unrolling a roll of membrane along the roof, and one of the workers was stepping backwards. The other worker called out “edge is coming up”, but it was too late and the roofer fell backwards off the portable and onto the asphalt pavement, suffering fatal injuries.
The company failed to meet the regulations around working at heights and fall protection, contrary to section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Slips, trips, and falls are one of the most common causes of injuries in the building and construction industry.
There are several control methods that can be put in place to prevent these types of incidents, like harnesses and guardrails.
