A blast at a gravel pit near the Trans Canada in September of 2021 that caused damage to vehicles and equipment has resulted in a number of charges against three companies, two supervisors and a certified blaster.

Occupational Health and Safety laid charges against Weir’s Construction and Triple J Aggregates of Conception Bay South, Dyno Nobel Canada of Mount Pearl and three people.

The blast in question caused damage to vehicles and equipment at the site. Weir’s and Triple J Aggregates have each been charged with five violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, while Dyno Noble Canada is facing seven counts related to its failure as an employer to ensure the health and safety of its workers, among other things.

First appearance is set for this Monday in St. John’s provincial court.

Weir’s Construction and Triple J Aggregates have each been charged with five violations that relate to their alleged failure as an employer to:

• Ensure its workers and supervisors were familiar with the hazards;
• Ensure as a Principal Contractor that employers and workers complied with Occupational Health and Safety legislation;
• Ensure that the Assistant Deputy Minister was notified of the incident;
• Take precautions to protect persons and property at or near the workplace, and to minimize the hazards of flying material from the blast; and
• Ensure that loose rocks were scaled off the face of excavations and removed from the crest before work was resumed after a blast.

Dyno Noble Canada Inc. has been charged with seven counts that relate to its alleged failure as an employer to:

• Ensure the health, safety and welfare of its workers;
• Ensure its workers and supervisors were familiar with the hazards;
• Ensure that the Assistant Deputy Minister was notified of the incident;
• Ensure that where more than one blaster is involved, all blasters and supervisors consult sufficiently to coordinate safety;
• Take precautions to protect persons or property at or near the workplace, and to minimize the hazards of flying material from the blast;
• Ensure that a blasting mat was used where there is a danger to the safety of persons or property; and
• Ensure that a misfire was treated at a safe and suitable time under the direction of a blaster in order to ensure the removal of hazards.

The blaster has been charged with six counts that allege that the blaster failed to:

• Consult with a supervisor so that both were aware of all work being conducted in the blasting area, and to ensure that no work was conducted in a manner which creates risk of an accidental explosion;
• Prevent another person from entering the place where a blast occurred until personally examining the blasting area and given permission for work to proceed;
• Ensure that after firing a blast, the blaster made a thorough inspection of the site before permitting other employees to return to work;
• Ensure that after a misfire or suspected misfire, a person did not move about the danger area until the expiry of the waiting time;
• Take precautions after a misfire or suspected misfire and then approach the misfired hole after the required waiting time, to assess for hazards; and
• In consultation with a supervisor, to determine the safest and most practicable means of treating the misfire.

The two supervisors have each been charged with four counts that allege that they failed to:

• Ensure the health, safety and welfare of all workers under their supervision;
• Advise workers under their supervision of the health and safety hazards that may be met by them in the workplace;
• Provide the proper written or oral instructions regarding precautions to be taken; and
• Consult with a blaster so that both were aware of all work being conducted in the blasting area and to ensure that no work was conducted in a manner that creates risk of an accidental explosion.