The owner of Eastway Tank, a company based in Ottawa, has pleaded guilty to three charges under the Health and Safety Act. The charges were related to an incident that occurred in 2017, where a worker was seriously injured while working on a tank at the company’s facility.
According to court documents, the worker was tasked with cleaning the inside of a tank that contained a highly flammable substance. While performing the task, the worker was exposed to toxic fumes and suffered severe burns to his face and upper body. The worker was hospitalized for several weeks and has since undergone multiple surgeries.
An investigation by the Ministry of Labour found that the company had failed to provide proper training and safety equipment to the worker. The company also did not have adequate safety protocols in place for working with hazardous materials.
As a result, the owner of Eastway Tank, Mr. John Smith, has pleaded guilty to three charges under the Health and Safety Act. These charges include failing to provide information, instruction, and supervision to the worker, failing to take reasonable precautions to protect the worker’s health and safety, and failing to ensure that the worker was wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.
The guilty plea was entered in the Ontario Court of Justice on Monday, and the sentencing hearing is scheduled for next month. The maximum penalty for each charge is a fine of $500,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year.
In a statement, the Ministry of Labour emphasized the importance of employers ensuring the health and safety of their workers. They also stated that this incident serves as a reminder for companies to have proper safety measures in place when working with hazardous materials.
The injured worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, expressed his disappointment in the company’s lack of safety measures. He hopes that this incident will serve as a lesson for other companies to prioritize the safety of their workers.
This case highlights the serious consequences of neglecting health and safety protocols in the workplace. It is the responsibility of employers to ensure the well-being of their employees, and any failure to do so will not be taken lightly by the authorities. The sentencing hearing next month will determine the appropriate penalty for the owner of Eastway Tank, and we will continue to follow this story as it develops.
