The death of a roofer at a Craig Street building last year has resulted in large fines levied against two companies in Ontario Court.
On April 1, 2021, the worker with Provincial Industrial Roofing and Sheet Metal Co. Ltd. was pushing a wheelbarrow full of roofing debris to a disposal chute when a concrete roof deck panel collapsed beneath him. He fell through the roof and was killed.
The incident was investigated by the Ministry of Labour.
The roofing work was part of extensive renovations by Upfield Canada of Etobicoke, Ont, which announced in 2020 that it would move its plant-based spreads and vegan cheese operation to the city after it bought a 164,000 square-foot industrial building on a 17.4 -acre property at 8-10 Craig St.
Upfield pleaded guilty to failing to protect the worker from the hazard of falling through the roof and the roofing company pleaded guilty to not taking reasonable precautions to protect its worker.
A supervisor or manager also was personally charged in the incident but the charges of failing to provide protection and failing to ensure compliance were withdrawn in court.
Justice Gethin Edward fined Upfield $125,000 and Provincial Industrial $175,000.
Each company was levied a 25 per cent victim surcharge, which goes to a special provincial fund to help victims of crime.
In 2020, Upfield got a $588,000 permit to do alterations to a building on the Craig Street site and then, late in 2021, applied for an $18-million permit for further work.
Upfield hired Provincial Industrial to replace a flat roof, including a pre-manufactured concrete deck and the membrane material covering it.
According to a provincial report, workers used “roof cutters,” which look like large circular saws on rolling carts.
The membrane material was cut into chunks and the debris dumped down a chute for disposal.
Upfield is the largest manufacturer of plant-based consumer products in the world. Its products include Becel and Imperial margarines.
Provincial Industrial Roofing is based in Concord, Ont..
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