Fatal Caterpillar Incident Results in $250,000 Penalty

A Caterpillar Dozer operator was helping another Dozer operator attach two fallen trees to the rear ripper shank of the Dozer. He was crushed between the ripper framework and the tree root ball as the Dozer was backing up. The employer pleaded guilty to violating Sec. 2(1)(a)(i) of the OHS Act. The court fined it $1,000 and ordered it to pay $249,000 for the establishment of an OHS management system for the Fishing Lake Métis Settlement [Settlement Transportation Services, Govt. News Release, Jan. 26, 2012].