Minor safety breaches found at Calgary sites

Inspections of highrise construction sites in Calgary, orderedafter a girl was killed by errant steel roofing, turned up nine minorsafety violations including not properly securing materials.

Theinfractions were noted after 20 sites were inspected byprovincial Occupational Health and Safetyofficers between Aug. 4 and 12,spokesman Chris Chodan saidThursday.

Nine compliance orders were handed out by inspectors:

• Four for the securing of materials or equipment.
• Two to conduct hazard assessments.
• One for adequate fall protection for workers.
• One for lighting.
• One for housekeeping (storing materials and equipment in an orderly and safe manner).

Chodan said he could not disclose which sites were given the orders because the companies have up to 30 days to appeal, and some are the subject of active OHS investigations or court actions. He said releasing names might influence those proceedings.

The provincial review was ordered after a sheet of metal blown from the top of the Le Germain development downtown struck and killed Michelle Krsek, 3, on Aug. 1.

Her father, Miroslav, and brother, Erik, were alsoinjured.

The city, the province and police all announced investigations after the girl's death.

Chodan said thehazards found by inspectors were "relatively minor. Because if they were more serious, they would have resulted in a stop-work order."

A compliance order indicatesan inspector will return by the deadline to check that a safety problemhas been fixed.

OHS can pursue prosecution if the employer has not complied. A conviction under the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act can result in a fine of up to $500,000 and/or six months in jail for each violation.

"No one in Alberta has yet done jail time as a result of an Occupational Health and Safety Act violation, but we've had a number of $500,000 penalties awarded," said Chodan.

A check of 20 highrise sites in Edmonton resulted in six compliance orders, he added.