Construction Company Fined $60,000 After Workplace Fatality
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A recent conviction highlights the ongoing risks of working at heights and the serious consequences of failing to protect workers from fall hazards.
What Happened
On December 7, 2023, a worker was fatally injured while working on the construction of a barn at a dairy farm in Thamesford, Ontario. The worker had been installing strapping across roof trusses approximately 30 feet above ground level. During the task, the worker fell through the truss framing to the ground below. At the time of the incident, no fall protection system was being used, despite equipment being available on site.
Falls from heights continue to be one of the leading causes of fatalities in construction. Incidents like this are preventable with proper planning, supervision, and enforcement of safety procedures.
If your organization needs support with fall protection programs, Working at Heights training, or site safety audits, DS Safety can help build systems that work in real environments, not just on paper.
The Charges and Outcome
- Offence: Failure to ensure a worker exposed to a fall hazard greater than 3 metres was using fall protection
- Conviction Date: March 5, 2026
- Penalty: $60,000 fine
- Additional: 25 percent victim fine surcharge applied under the Provincial Offences Act
- No fall protection system in use despite availability
- No assigned supervisor on the project
- Lack of formal safety talks or site specific communication
- Absence of implemented fall protection procedures, despite having a written policy
Lessons for Employers and Contractors
This incident is a clear reminder that having equipment and policies is not enough. They must be actively implemented, enforced, and supported by supervision.
Key takeaways:
- Ensure fall protection is always used when required
- Assign competent supervision on every project
- Deliver site specific safety talks and hazard assessments
- Develop and communicate clear fall protection and rescue procedures
- Reinforce training through programs like Working at Heights training Ontario
