This release was issued under a previous government.

The sentence resulted from a 2012 case where a worker was paralyzed when he fell into a floor opening at a work site. The employer pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to ensure, as far as it was reasonably practical to do so, the health and safety of a worker.

A corporate representative of Needoba Construction Ltd. will serve 200 hours of community service. The company will also pay a $10,000 fine.

The representative will perform community service with Hearts and Hammers, a non-profit organization that provides home renovations to accommodate people with mobility challenges. OHS recommended Hearts and Hammers so the employer could use his years of experience to give back to society and those with mobility challenges.

Incident details

  • The incident occurred on August 21, 2012 at a residential construction site in Calgary.
  • The worker fell through an opening between joists, falling approximately 6.6 metres.
  • The worker suffered paralytic injuries from the chest down.

The employer was also sentenced to 18 months’ probation.