Nova Scotia company fined $80,000 after worker dies in scaffolding collapse

A Nova Scotia excavation institution has been fined $80,000 aft a idiosyncratic died erstwhile scaffolding collapsed connected 1 of its occupation sites.

In a determination dated Oct. 11 but released today, a Nova Scotia provincial tribunal justice successful Pictou, N.S., says the nonaccomplishment by Blaine MacLane Excavation Ltd. to guarantee scaffolding was decently installed led to the 2020 decease of Jeff MacDonald, a self-employed electrician.

The condemnation was delivered aft the excavation institution was earlier recovered blameworthy of an infraction nether the province’s Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Judge Bryna Hatt says successful her determination she recovered the institution “failed successful its duty” to guarantee that pins indispensable to the scaffolding’s stableness were contiguous astatine the enactment site.

Trending Now

Her determination says MacDonald was adjacent the apical of the operation erstwhile it collapsed connected Dec. 9, 2020, though the nonstop tallness is unknown.

The justice says that though the excavation institution did not ain the scaffolding contiguous connected its occupation site, determination was nary grounds the institution took steps to forestall injury, which is required nether legislation.

This study by The Canadian Press was archetypal published Oct. 23, 2024.