R. v. Barrington Lane Developments Ltd. et al., (1994) 129 N.S.R.(2d) 92 (ProvCt)

• Judge: Batiot, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
• Case Date: December 10, 1993
• Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
• Citations: (1994), 129 N.S.R.(2d) 92 (ProvCt)

R. v. Barrington Lane Dev. (1994), 129 N.S.R.(2d) 92 (ProvCt);

  362 A.P.R. 92

MLB headnote and full text

Her Majesty The Queen v. Barrington Lane Developments Limited and Decoste Construction Services Limited

(Info. 13068)

Indexed As: R. v. Barrington Lane Developments Ltd. et al.

Nova Scotia Provincial Court

Batiot, P.C.J.

March 1, 1994.

Summary:

A developer hired a contractor to "frame and make roof tight" an apartment building. During the construction, a worker fell and broke his neck. The developer and the con­tractor were charged with various infractions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its Regulations.

The Nova Scotia Provincial Court dealt with the charges accordingly.

Trade Regulation - Topic 7887

Industrial safety - Offences - Failure to provide scaffold - A developer hired a contractor to "frame and make roof tight" an apartment building - During the con­struction, a worker fell and broke his neck - The developer and the contractor were charged with various infractions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its Regulations - Included in the charges was failure to provide a scaffold - The devel­oper claimed that the contractor controlled the activity - The contractor claimed that it acted in accordance with industry prac­tice - The Nova Scotia Provincial Court dismissed the charge against the developer but found the contractor guilty - See paragraphs 24 to 64.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Sault Ste. Marie (City), [1978] 2 S.C.R. 1299; 21 N.R. 295; 85 D.L.R.(3d) 161; 40 C.C.C.(2d) 353; 3 C.R.(3d) 30; 7 C.E.L.R. 53, refd to. [para. 27].

R. v. White and Johnson (1988), 93 A.R. 254 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 42].

R. v. Rio Algom Ltd. (1988), 29 O.A.C. 349; 46 C.C.C.(3d) 242 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 50].

R. v. Chapin (1979), 26 N.R. 289; 45 C.C.C.(2d) 333 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 50].

R. v. Kienapple, [1975] 1 S.C.R. 729; 1 N.R. 322; 26 C.R.N.S. 1; 15 C.C.C.(2d) 524; 44 D.L.R.(3d) 351, refd to. [para. 72].

R. v. B.B.S. Construction Ontario Ltd., [1989] C.O.H.S.C. 203 (Ont. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 82].

R. v. Bona Building and Management Co. (1991), 7 C.O.H.S.C. 179 (Ont. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 82].

R. v. Canadian Pacific Forest Products (1991), 9 C.O.H.S.C. 80 (Ont. Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 82].

Statutes Noticed:

Construction Safety and Industrial Safety Regulations - see Occupational Health and Safety Act Regulations (N.S.).

First Aid Regulations - see Occupational Health and Safety Act Regulations (N.S.).

Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 320, sect. 2 [para. 33]; sect. 2(c) [para. 35]; sect. 2(i) [para. 34]; sect. 9 [para. 36]; sect. 10 [para. 37]; sect. 12 [para. 38]; sect. 18(1) [para. 39]; sect. 22(6) [para. 60]; sect. 25 [para. 40]; sect. 38 [para. 2]; sect. 38(3) [para. 69]; sect. 39 [para. 2]; sect. 49(1)(a) [para. 2].

Occupational Health and Safety Act Regu­lations (N.S.), Construction Safety and Industrial Safety Regulations, sect. 2 [para. 33]; sect. 230 [para. 24]; sect. 237, sect. 243(1) [para. 29]; sect. 251 [para. 31]; sect. 252, sect. 254 [para. 30].

Occupational Health and Safety Act Regu­lations (N.S.), First Aid Regulations, sect. 4, sect. 10 [para. 73].

Counsel:

Dennis Theman, for the Crown;

John MacPherson, for Barrington Lane Developments Ltd.;

Michael Brooker, for Decoste Construction Services Ltd.

This case was heard on November 9 and December 10, 1993, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, before Batiot, P.C.J., of the Nova Scotia Provincial Court, who delivered the follow­ing judgment on March 1, 1994.