OTTAWA — Gatineau, Que. company Bellai Alliance Floor Finishing Ltd. (formerly Bellai Bros. Construction) has been fined $65,000 in relation to a highrise incident where a worker was injured in 2022.
An Ontario court bulletin states the incident took place on Oct. 25, 2022, at a highrise construction project at 1707 Carling Ave. in Ottawa.
Bellai Alliance Floor Finishing Ltd. was subcontracted for the highrise project, which included the use of a tower crane and formwork equipment.
A worker from the company was helping to hoist a peri box filled with formwork components up to the upper slab of the project. As the load lifted, it swung towards and struck the worker, causing a critical injury.
A Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Skills and Development investigation determined the company failed to ensure a tag line/guide rope was used to prevent the peri box from swinging in an uncontrolled motion, as required by section 179(1) of Ontario Regulation 213/91. As such, the constructor breached its duties under section 25(1)(c) of the Ontario Health and Safety Act.
The constructor on the project, Claridge Homes Inc., pleaded guilty and was fined $55,000 in relation to this incident in August 2024, the bulletin notes.
Following a trial in the Provincial Offences Court in Ottawa, Bellai Alliance Floor Finishing Ltd. was fined by Justice of the Peace Andrew Seymour on Jan. 31 and was sentenced May 22.
