Overview
On May 21, 2013 Chris Boyle, an employee of R.D. Longard
Services Limited ("Longard"), died on the job after being
electrocuted. Longard was charged under the Nova Scotia
Occupational Health and Safety Act. The charges
included not taking every reasonable precaution for the health and
safety of Mr. Boyle. By decision dated April 17, 2015, Judge
Anne Derrick found Longard guilty. Sentencing is to take
place later.
The main issue Judge Derrick was called upon to address was
whether Longard had taken sufficient safety steps with respect to
its employees and the particular job in question.
Background
Longard is a commercial and residential electrical services
company. Mr. Boyle was an experienced journeyman electrician
who was trusted to work independently and whose past record
indicated he was very safety conscious for both himself and fellow
employees. Mr. Boyle and other employees of Longard had, in
2012, taken certain courses through the Nova
