Windsor

Windsor roofing company fined in connection with 2015 death of young worker

A Windsor roofing company has been fined in connection with the death of a young worker who feel from a roof.

The worker was hospitalized and unconscious for more than six months before he died

Windsor Ontario Court of Justice. (Derek Spalding/CBC)

A Windsor roofing company has been fined $90,000 in connection with the death of a young worker who fell from a roof.

Dayus Roofing Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure workplace safety standards were met, as outlined in the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act. Companies are required to protect their workers with a guardrail system or another fall prevention method. 

On Dec. 11, 2015, workers were reshingling a roof on Menard Street in Windsor. All of the workers were wearing harnesses that were attached by lanyards to safety lines and anchors on the roof.

The young worker, Michael Maukonen, who was 19 at the time, was crossing the roof to throw out old shingles and didn't reattach his lanyard to the safety line. He lost his footing and fell to the ground sustaining serious injuries. 

Maukonen was hospitalized for more than six months but didn't regain consciousness and eventually passed away. 

On top of the fine, the court imposed a 25 per cent victim fine surcharge, which goes to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.