The Village of Laird in Saskatchewan has been fined $150,000 after a significant workplace safety breach resulted in a worker’s injury. The penalties stem from two Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) violations.
On July 10, the village admitted guilt to the OHS violations before the Rosthern Provincial Court. These violations are connected to an incident on July 19, 2022. On that day, a worker was ejected from the seat of a mower and became trapped underneath it, suffering serious injuries.
For each violation, the court imposed a fine of $53,571.43 along with a surcharge of $21,428.57, culminating in a total of $150,000. Two additional charges were dropped.
In a news release on Friday, the provincial government stated that the village failed to provide adequate supervision and neglected to identify and correct safety hazards associated with powered mobile equipment. This negligence was a significant factor in the incident.
The Village of Laird, situated roughly 67 kilometers north of Saskatoon, breached subsection 3-6(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020. This regulation mandates that employers ensure all work is competently supervised. Additionally, the village violated clause 11-4(b), which requires immediate action to protect workers from known defects or unsafe conditions in powered mobile equipment.
The court’s decision highlights the gravity of the incident and emphasizes the critical importance of workplace safety and proper supervision. Ensuring the safety of workers is paramount, and this case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of neglecting these responsibilities.
