An Ottawa-based flooring and renovation company has been fined $100,000 after a worker was seriously injured in a fall during demolition work at a company-owned property in Edwards, Ontario.
Southgate Carpets Inc. pleaded guilty in provincial offences court in Ottawa to two violations of Ontario’s construction safety regulations. The conviction stems from a September 2023 incident in which a worker fell from the top of a partially demolished building.
The company was sentenced on Dec. 12, 2024, by Justice of the Peace Karen Baum. Crown counsel was Christine Perruzza.
Worker fell while removing roof trusses
According to the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, workers were removing roof trusses from a house on the property at 1412 York’s Corners Road on Sept. 10, 2023. One worker was positioned on top of the remaining wall, using a crowbar to detach trusses from the exterior walls before rigging them to an excavator for removal.
During the task, the worker fell to the ground. A subsequent investigation found that there was no scaffolding, flooring or staging system in place within 2.4 metres of the worker at the time of the fall.
Violations of construction safety regulations
The ministry determined that Southgate Carpets failed to move materials and operate equipment in a way that did not endanger a worker, breaching section 37(1) of Ontario Regulation 213/91 under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The company was also found to have violated section 219 of the same regulation, which requires appropriate fall protection when workers are exposed to heights.
Both violations were contrary to section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which mandates that employers comply with prescribed safety requirements.
The company operates out of 1492 Startop Road in Ottawa and provides flooring and small renovation services.
