Ottawa, Ont. - 648468 Ontario Inc., carrying on business as Marble Unlimited, an Ottawa manufacturer of synthetic marble and natural stone countertops, was fined $50,000 on November 19, 2009, for a violation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) after a young worker was injured.

On May 7, 2008, workers were moving marble and granite slabs in an outdoor storage yard.  The slabs were leaning on their sides on "A frame" storage racks.  A young worker tilted one of the slabs forward so that it stood on its edge.  The weight of the slab shifting caused the worker to lose balance and fall backwards.  The slab, weighing over 440 kilograms, fell and pinned the worker against another storage rack.  The worker suffered a broken arm.

648468 Ontario Inc. pleaded guilty to failing, as an employer, to ensure that the slabs were removed from the storage racks in a manner that did not endanger the safety of any worker.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Paulina Brecher.  In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act.  The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

Court Information at a Glance

Location:                   

Ontario Court of Justice

100 Constellation Cres.

Ottawa, Ont.

Judge:

Justice of the Peace Paulina Brecher

Date of Conviction:

November 19, 2009

Defendant:

648468 Ontario Inc., carrying on business as Marble Unlimited

Matter:                      

Occupational Health and Safety

Conviction:

Ontario Regulation 851/90, Section 45(c)

Crown Counsel:

Grainne McGrath