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Roofing company fined $14,000

Dec 2, 2010 | 3:31 PM

A Prince Albert roofing company has been fined for safety violations for the second time this year and received a substantial fine.

Pro Image Roofing and Gutters Ltd. and owner Steven McCreary, pleaded guilty to 14 Occupational Health and Safety Violations dating back to August.

The court heard that on Aug. 19, an OHS officer observed two workers on a roof without the proper safety restraints. The officer told the workers to come down and measured the height of the roof. He determined it was 3.3 meters tall, and according to legislation, a surface three meters or higher requires safety restraints.

The workers told the officer there boss, McCreary had such restraints in his vehicle but had gone to buy supplies. When McCreary returned, he confirmed to the officer that he did have the harnesses.

The officer also requested to see the company’s safety policy regarding heights but McCreary was unable to provide it.

The result was 14 separate charges from the OHS officer.

In court on Thursday, prosecutor Mitchell Miller said it was the second time the company had received warnings and a slew of charges from OHS.

He referred to ruling in June, where the company was fined almost $6,000 for 16 similar charges.

Miller said, it was appropriate to give higher fines than the previous violations because of the repeat behaviour and danger it posed to workers.

“Obviously, Mr. McCreary is not seemingly taking matters that seriously even though he acknowledges his actions can have a serious effect on the lives of his employees,” Miller said.
In the end, McCreary was handed a $14,130 fine for the 14 charges.

adesouza@panow.com