Guilty Pleas Entered in Christmas Eve Scaffolding Tragedy

On Dec. 24 2009, workers were working on a swing-stage scaffold when it collapsed. Four workers died and another was seriously injured. Their employer, its president and a supervisor were charged with violations of the OHS laws and criminal law. The company that provided the scaffold and its president were also charged with OHS violations. The employer pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death under the Criminal Code as amended by Bill C-45. Its president pleaded guilty to four OHS violations for failing, as a company director, to ensure the company complied with the OHS laws. Neither has been sentenced yet. Charges against the supervisor are still pending [Metron Construction, June 15, 2012]. (For details, read a blog post by Cheryl Edwards.)