Toronto roofer fined for multiple safety violations

BURLINGTON, ONT. — Toronto’s Sunny Roofing Inc. was fined a total of $40,000 in court on March 14 for health and safety violations that included obstruction of a Ministry of Labour inspector during an investigation and failing to ensure its workers had mandatory fall protection and safety equipment.

Obstructing an inspector in the performance of the inspector’s duties is an offence under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).

A ministry media release indicated that on July 13, 2015, a ministry inspector was called to the site of a residential re-roofing project in Milton, Ont. in response to a complaint. There the inspector observed several workers on the roof without fall protection, hardhats or safety boots as required by Regulation 213/91 under the OHSA. Sunny Roofing was subsequently charged and convicted for these offences.

In addition, the company was convicted of obstructing, hindering and interfering with an inspector. The court found its workers fled the worksite during the investigation, and the company failed to respond to correspondence and the direction of the inspector.

Following a trial, Sunny Roofing was fined $40,000 by Justice of the Peace Thomas McKeough in a Burlington court. The fines were:

• $15,000 for obstructing a Ministry of Labour inspector in the performance of duty under the Occupational Health and Safety Act;

• $20,000 for the lack of fall protection (such as harnesses or safety nets);

• $2,500 for the lack of protective headgear (hard hats); and

• $2,500 for the lack of protective footwear.