An Ottawa residential developer has been fined $55,000 in connection with a 2022 incident that led to a worker’s critical injuries.

Claridge Homes pled guilty to charges of violating the Ontario Health and Safety Act. The company will also pay a 25-percent victim fine surcharge that is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

The incident occurred on the site of a high-rise project on Carling Avenue in Ottawa. The project included the use of a tower crane and formwork equipment.

On October 25, 2022, a worker from a company that had been subcontracted to work on the project was helping to hoist a peri box filled with formwork components up to the upper slab.

As the load lifted, it began to swing and move towards the worker, causing a critical injury.

A Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development investigation determined that Claridge Homes Inc. failed to ensure that a tag line/guide rope was used to prevent the peri box from swinging towards the worker, as required by section 179(1) of Ontario Regulation 213/91. As such, it was found to have breached its duties under section23(1)(a) of the Ontario Health and Safety Act.