The City of Saskatoon is among 12 Saskatchewan employers fined recently under the province’s occupational health and safety regulations.
The city pleaded guilty Wednesday in provincial court to failing to ensure its public works employees were protected from cave-ins of sliding materials in a trench while replacing water lines in early September 2008.
A fine of $7,500 was imposed, along with a $3,000 victim fine surcharge.
The charges were laid after occupational health and safety (OHS) officers conducted a routine inspection. The inspection was not prompted by any injury or complaint, said Glennis Bihun, executive director of the OHS branch.
Routine inspections increased by 23 per cent last year and more cases were forwarded to the Justice Ministry recommending charges in accordance with the recommendations of a minister’s advisory committee, Bihun said.
The larger number of cases referred has resulted in 12 convictions since April of this year, compared to 11 convictions in the entire previous year, Bihun said.
Workers Compensation Board figures show a decline in the number of workplace injuries serious enough to cause missed days of work beyond the day of the incident, Bihun said.
In 2009, 3.44 workers per 100 suffered lost time injuries, down from 2002, when such injuries peaked at 4.95 per 100 workers.
"The number is significantly lower but unacceptably high, still," Bihun said.
"Are we making progress? Absolutely. But there’s lots more to be done," she said.
The improvements are the result of safety efforts undertaken by employers, workers, OHS committees, safety organizations and government, she said.
OHS conducts about 4,000 worksite inspections annually to ensure standards are known, understood and enforced, she said.
Inspections have increased while OHS officer numbers have remained the same, thanks to a focus on improved efficiency and effectiveness, Bihun said.
OHS also provides about 200 training courses per year to workplace supervisors and worker OHS committees to ensure they know their rights and responsibilities, she said.
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