A Norwich-based contractor has been fined $60,000 in connection with a 2023 workplace incident that led to a worker’s death.

Hendrik Jan Van Ginkel Construction pled guilty to a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act in a Woodstock court. The company will also pay a 25-percent victim fine surcharge.

On December 7, 2023, the company was constructing a barn on a farm in Thamesford.

A worker contracted by the company was installing strapping across roof trusses on the barn. They were positioned approximately 30 feet above ground level, above the truss framing.

While performing this work, the worker fell through the truss framing to the ground below and sustained fatal injuries.

The worker was not using any method of fall protection at the time of the incident, despite fall protection equipment being available onsite.

The company did not assign a supervisor or provide formal safety talks on this project, and although it had a written policy, no formal fall protection procedures were implemented at the time of the incident.

Following the incident, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development issued orders, including stop work orders, requiring the company to implement fall protection measures and develop a rescue plan, which were complied with.

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