19.03.2008

Charges filed for crane collapse

Charges have been filed against Port Weller Dry Docks, a division of Canadian Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd and Seaway Marine and Industrial following the fatal crane collapse last year. See Port Crane topples

The accident happened on March 13, 2007 when a Clyde crane toppled over burying long time Port Weller employee Michael Damiano in the rubble. It took three days for his body to be recovered.

The dry docks had recently been purchased from the bankrupt Port Weller Dry Docks by Seaway Marine and work was being done to remove assets from the site as part of conditions of the sale.

The Ministry of Labour has laid six charges against the former and current owners under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The companies have been charged with failure to ensure equipment, materials and protection devices were maintained, failure to ensure the crane was examined by a competent person on an annual basis and failure to ensure the equipment, materials and protective devices were used as prescribed.

The companies face a maximum fine of $500,000 for each charge. They are scheduled to appear in court on April 18.