Those involved with occupational health and safety law have
followed with interest the ongoing saga of Metron Construction.
This sad story began with the collapse of a hanging swing stage at
a western Toronto apartment building, resulting in the deaths of
four workers and serious injuries to another. Various
prosecutions under the Occupational Health and Safety
Act and the Criminal Code have resulted
in the imposition of over $1.5 million in fines and surcharges on
the various corporations and individuals involved in the
accident.
Another prosecution, R v Kazenelson, respecting
that accident recently concluded with the conviction of the site
supervisor for five criminal charges: four charges of criminal
negligence causing death, and one charge of criminal negligence
causing bodily harm. This is the first successful prosecution
of an individual under the provisions of the Criminal
Code which deal with workplace accidents.
