Attempts to deceive Ministry of Labour (Ontario) inspector lands contractor in jail

Three workers were re-shingling a residential roofing in Bayfield Ontario when one of the workers fell 18 feet. The owner, Bradley Clothier, a sole proprietor of AB Roofing from Dorchester, Ontario, had no fall protection equipment installed for his team.

Here’s what the Ministry of Labour said: “After the worker fell, Clothier directed a third worker at the site to go up onto the roof and put up lifelines and fall protection equipment to deceive the Ministry of Labour investigation.”

On November 2, 2016, Bradley Clothier plead guilty to two Ontario Health and Safety Act (OHSA) offences: attempting to obstruct, and interfering with an inspector and in the protection of his workers.

Clothier was jailed by the court for three days on the obstruction/interference charge and fined $5,000.00 for the other charge. (Read the MOL press release here.)

There have been until recently, in fact, very few jail terms imposed by courts for OHSA violations. The courts now, however, seem willing to impose jail terms for serious violations, such as this attempt to deceive MOL inspectors. Some suggest Clothier should have received a longer jail term. On the other hand, this form of free advertising will, of course, penalize his business even further.

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