Metron construction, the company from whose swing-stage four construction workers fell 13 storeys to their deaths in Toronto on Christmas Eve, 2009, when the structure broke in half, has been fined $200,000 as a lengthy trial wrapped up at Old City Hall on July 13.
The company was convicted of criminal negligence causing death, although the owner of the firm, Joel Swartz, had seen his personal charges of criminal negligence dropped earlier in the proceedings. Instead, he pled guilt to contravening the Occupational Health and Safety Act and was fined $90,000.
The judgment against Metron marked the first time that a construction company has been convicted of criminal negligence causing death under the Ontario Criminal Code.
Metron and the owner will also be required to pay a “victim surcharge” of $52,500.
Justice Robert Bigelow, who presided over the trial, said the fines were intended to send a message that workplace safety violations were a serious issue.
But Ontario Federation of Labour president Sid Ryan said the ruling was “disgraceful.”
“It says that a worker’s life is worth no more than $50,000,” Ryan said. “Many bad bosses across the province will simply chalk it up as the cost of doing business.”
Loading ...
William Graham
July 24, 2012
Sid ryan is right. The owner deserved Jail time and the workers families deserved much better. There is no clear message here to the employer.
Hey look at the roofers on Saturday and sunday. Doing roof with no lines and no harness. Where are the inspectors??
Aram Malek
July 24, 2012
The Occupational Health and Safety Act Should include every worker in Ontario must have 6 months minimum or 1000 hours of Apprenticeship and have someone with them that speak English at the job site.
I can say this. In my company Canadian Professional Crane Inc. we do not take any one as crane operator that is new to Canada but have crane license, but does not know The Occupational Health and Safety Act because, we want the worker to work safe and know is safety first..
The worker must not skip the safety rolls. Like Inspect the crane every day, load test the crane, No phone when operating the crane.
Aram Malek
http://www.cpcrane.com
We need better training for new worker in Canada. If new worker, 16 of age and new Canadian working in construction must have apprenticeship.
Justice Robert Bigelow did send a message to all. that safety first.
rocco
July 25, 2012
who’s pocket does the money go in????
Will the victims families get any of the so called “fine” money or will wsib go to lunch, maybe beer for the cottage?
Robert Koci
August 8, 2012
The victims of the tragedy and their families don’t get a nickle. it all goes into the WSIB general fund. Unbelievable.
S. Mallette
July 26, 2012
I think Justice R. Bigelow’s ruling is a joke. the only message I got was a workers life isn’t worth very much and is Joel Swartz going to take care of the families of the four workers who where killed? I think Metron deserved a bigger fine than what they got.