A paving company has been fined $40,000 in connection with a fatal workplace incident that occurred almost three years ago.

It happened in New Harbour on May 31, 2019, as the company was preparing to pave a driveway.

54-year-old Gerald Hiscock fell from his asphalt spreader and was run over by it.

According to the facts, the machine had numerous obvious mechanical problems, including a fault that caused it to idle at full throttle and move on its own.

Paradise Paving pleaded guilty to three charges of failing to provide a safe workplace or proper supervision, and failing to make sure its equipment was working right.

Judge David Orr said the negligence was high, with multiple defects that would’ve been apparent and should’ve been fixed. That said, he noted Paradise Paving is a small company with no previous offences that pleaded guilty and has since addressed all safety issues.

With that, he accepted the Crown’s submission of a $40,000 total fine in the case.

Paradise Paving’s lawyer summed it up as a situation where a small company was trying to work efficiently, and in the process failed to properly manage its equipment.