Ottawa, Canada – Legal experts are calling the recent penalties imposed on Eastway Tank, Pump & Meter and its owner Neil Greene a groundbreaking moment in workplace safety enforcement. The fines, amounting to a total of $850,000, were deemed unprecedented by Cheryl Edwards, a partner at Matthews Dinsdale & Clark LLP.
The decision came in an Ottawa courtroom, where Justice Mitch Hoffman approved a joint submission from both legal teams, suggesting the substantial penalties for Eastway and Greene. Eastway was handed a hefty $600,000 fine, with Greene facing $80,000 in penalties. Additionally, a 25 percent victim surcharge fee was included in the total penalty.
The tragic incident that led to these consequences occurred in January 2022 when an explosion at Eastway resulted in the devastating loss of six employees. The victims – Rick Bastien, Etienne Mabiala, Danny Beale, Kayla Ferguson, Russell McLellan, and Matt Kearney – tragically lost their lives in the blast at the long-standing family business on Merivale Road in Ottawa. Another worker, Tanner Clement, survived the explosion but sustained life-altering injuries.
The aftermath of this explosion has raised significant concerns about workplace safety practices. The substantial fines levied against Eastway and Greene serve as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining high safety standards in all workplaces.
Many are hopeful that this case will set a precedent for ensuring accountability in workplace safety moving forward and prevent similar tragedies from occurring. The legal community, along with advocates for workplace safety, sees this ruling as a critical step towards promoting a culture of safety and responsibility in the workplace.
As the families of the victims continue to mourn their loss, this outcome provides a sense of justice and closure. It also underscores the legal system’s commitment to upholding safety regulations and holding accountable those who neglect their duty to prioritize the well-being of their employees.