$90K in fines for N.L. government after worker's 2013 death on TCH

The Department of Transportation and Works has to pay $90,000 in fines after being convicted of charges connected to the death of a paint crew member on the highway near Flat Bay two and a halfyears ago.

• TCH worker death: Transportation department pleads guilty to 4 safety violations
• Highway worker's death devastating, NAPE says

Wayne Wall, 41, was setting up road painting signs on the Trans-Canada Highwayon the west coast of Newfoundland in July 2013 when he was hit by a truck and died on impact.

In provincial court in Stephenville on Thursday, the department was convicted of five safety violations in connection with Wall's death and ordered to pay a total of $90,000 in fines.

$75K for safety audit, support group

Of the total, $75,000 has been earmarked fora third party safety audit of the department.The audit is not expected to cost that much, so the court has stipulated that any remainder be divided among two groups.

Seventy-five per cent will goto Threads of Life, which describes itselfas anassociation for workplace tragedy family support on its website, and 25 per cent will go to Workplace N.L.

Five fines including victim surcharges were also leviedtotalling $15,000.

The department pleaded guilty to the five occupational health and safety breaches inOctober, including failing to ensure the health of workers and failing to establish a safety program.