Apprentice’s Fatal Fall Results in $70,000 Fine for HVAC Company

A supervisor and an apprentice prepared to repair a home’s HVAC unit, which was located on top of a flat roof. The apprentice was sent up to the roof to look at the equipment while the supervisor performed other tasks. A short time later, the apprentice was found lying on the ground, having suffered fatal injuries from a fall. The MOL investigation found that the apprentice had fallen about nine metres and wasn’t wearing any fall arrest equipment. The HVAC company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that a worker was protected by a fall arrest system as required by law and was fined $70,000 [Design Air Ltd., Govt. News Release, Aug. 11, 2014].