Employer Fined $25,000 After Worker Killed

Barrie, ON - Mike Vallee, an employer who operated a demolition and salvage business, was fined $25,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after one worker was killed and another was injured.

On June 25, 2010, workers employed by Mr. Vallee were at a demolition project at a private home in Oro-Medonte. The workers were removing a dilapidated mobile home from the property. They had removed the interior paneling and aluminum siding from the home when the roof suddenly collapsed on two workers inside the structure. One of the workers was killed and the other was seriously injured.

The mobile home was in damaged condition before demolition started. The structural integrity of the home was further diminished by the removal of its interior walls and exterior cladding during the demolition process.

Mike Vallee pleaded guilty, as an employer, to failing to ensure that the mobile home was demolished systematically from the highest to the lowest point.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Linda Debartolo. In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

Court Information at a Glance

Location:                    Ontario Court of Justice
                                    45 Cedar Pointe Dr.
                                    Barrie, ON

Judge:                         Justice of the Peace Linda Debartolo

Date of Sentencing:     October 5, 2012

Defendants:                 Mike Vallee

Matter:                         Occupational Health and Safety

Convictions:                 Ontario Regulation 213, Section 216(1)

Crown Counsel:           Grainne McGrath