Marathon Drilling Co. Ltd. Fined 65,000 After Worker Injured

Ottawa, ON - Marathon Drilling Co. Ltd., a Greely, Ontario, construction company, was fined 65,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured.

On October 7, 2010, the company was drilling at a construction project on Albion Rd. in Ottawa. The company was using a boom truck to lift and move construction materials needed for the drilling work. A worker was helping to place an auger being moved by the boom truck. The worker was holding the chains attaching the auger to the boom truck's hook when the truck came into contact with an overhead electrical conductor. The worker received an electric shock and was seriously burned.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the cable of the boom truck was too close to the overhead electrical conductor at the time of the incident.

Marathon Drilling Co. Ltd. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the cable of the boom truck was kept away from the overhead conductor by at least the minimum distance prescribed by the Ontario Regulation for Construction Projects.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Brian Mackey. In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

Court Information at a Glance

Location:                    Ontario Court of Justice

                                    161 Elgin St.

                                    Ottawa, ON

Judge:                         Justice of the Peace Brian Mackey

Date of Sentencing:    January 26, 2012

Defendant:                  Marathon Drilling Co. Ltd.

Matter:                        Occupational Health and Safety

Conviction:                 Ontario Regulation 213/91, Section 188(2)

Crown Counsel:          Linda Chen