Bedford company, president sentenced for 2016 workplace fatality

A Bedford contracting company and its president have been hit with $35,000 in financial penalties for safety violations stemming from a 2016 workplace fatality.

ALC Contracting Ltd. and Chris Hubbard pleaded guilty in Halifax provincial court in July to three charges under the province’s Occupational Health and Safety Act in connection with the death of employee Keith Sanford.

They were sentenced late last week in Halifax provincial court.

Sanford, 60, died June 9, 2016, after falling three storeys from an extension ladder that was being used to get on and off pumpjack scaffolding at a siding project on Douglas Drive in Bedford.

The company accepted responsibility for failing to ensure a portable ladder was adequately secured against movement.

Hubbard, 61, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the pumpjack scaffolding was erected and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications and failing to provide information, training, supervision and facilities necessary for the health and safety of employees.

Judge Michael Sherar accepted a joint sentencing recommendation from lawyers for financial penalties of $20,750 for the company and $14,250 for Hubbard.

The company and Hubbard each have to pay a $5,000 fine and $750 victim fine surcharge.

In addition, the company will donate $15,000 to the labour minister’s education trust fund, and Hubbard will develop, print and distribute a pumpjack safety checklist at a cost of $7,500 and conduct 30 safety presentations at a projected cost of $1,000.

The court heard that the scaffolding had been erected by Hubbard and Sanford earlier that week.

A Labour Department investigation into the mishap revealed deficiencies in how the scaffolding was set up and in the condition of the ladder and the manner in which it was used.

The ladder was not properly extended so that its side rails were a metre above the scaffolding platform and it was not tied off at the time of the incident. Several rungs of the ladder had been damaged and it was missing rubber feet.

Sanford, who lived in Summerville, Hants County, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hubbard told the court that he believes sharing this experience with others in the industry will help make workplaces safer.