Media Release - Stoufville Construction Company Pleads Guilty to Safety Violations
Stouffville Construction Company Pleads Guilty to Safety Violations
TSSA Cracks Down on Pipeline Hits
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Toronto, ON, July 7, 2013) – The Technical Standard and Safety Authority’s (TSSA’s) aggressive enforcement of pipeline damage has netted a guilty plea from a Stouffville construction company.
The Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto levied a fine of $25,000 – plus the mandatory 25% victim surcharge –against Miwel Construction, a subsidiary of Toronto construction company Aecon, for violating a safety regulation under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000.
In November 2010, the Barrie Fire Department reported a gas pipeline strike on a high pressure line in Barrie, Ontario, forcing the evacuation of numerous businesses, residences and nearby schools. TSSA’s investigation of the incident led to Miwel Construction pleading guilty to contravening a provincial safety regulation – damaging a natural gas pipeline.
“These are serious violations of Ontario’s safety rules that put the public in real danger,” said John Marshall, Director of TSSA’s Fuels Safety Program. “These strikes can be extremely dangerous and any damage to a natural gas pipeline will be aggressively prosecuted,” added Marshall.
TSSA reminds the public that any excavation work must comply with safety requirements, including obtaining a valid pipeline locate from the licence holder or gas utility before breaking ground. Ontario Regulation 210/01 prohibits interfering with or damaging a pipeline and any damage and/or subsequent release of gas should be immediately reported to the Ministry of Environment’s Spills Action Centre at 1-800-268-6060 or by contacting TSSA toll-free at 1-877-682-8772.
Full media release attached below.
