Your Resources

Company ordered to pay contractor $80,000 after he is struck by a falling tree…

A contractor has fractured his skull and suffered a severe brain injury after he was struck on the head by a falling tree trunk. The contractor was standing underneath the tree when an arborist cut off the trunk.

The District Court has sentenced the contractor’s employer under the Health and Safety in Employment Act for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the contractor’s safety.

The company had not adequately trained or supervised the contractor who was not wearing a safety helmet or high-visibility clothing at the time. The company also failed to ensure that there was clear communication between its employees, and had not marked out areas around the tree that were unsafe for ground crew to be in.

The Court sentenced the company and ordered them to pay $80,000 reparation.