A foreman was installing roofing at a four-story building when he fell. Although he was wearing a safety harness, it wasn’t secured to the roof. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. The contractor had provided three people working on the roof with safety harnesses and fall arrest equipment, but some of the equipment failed inspection. In addition, the contractor didn’t train workers on how to use or maintain the safety harnesses; the crew didn’t install the roof anchors properly; and they weren’t using jacks and planks that were required to do the work. The contractor pleaded guilty to an OHS violation and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, which he’ll be allowed to serve on weekends. At sentencing, Judge Patrick Curran said workers die far too often as the result of falls. “The people who operate the businesses on work sites not only have to be aware of the potential risk of life from falls but surely are aware,” he said. “Incidents are frighteningly common.”

[David Busk, CBC, Nov. 14, 2016]