A staffing firm and a buyer in Ontario were fined a total of C$170,000 (US$128,871) after the death of a contingent worker who fell from the top of a greenhouse, according to a court bulletin from the province of Ontario. The worker’s fall protection harness was not fastened.

Staffing firm FHES Ontario Ltd. in Leamington, Ontario, was fined C$70,000 (US$53,064). The buyer, Lebo Farms Ltd. in Leamington was fined C$100,000 (US$75,801), according to the court bulletin.

Both firms entered guilty pleas in the Ontario Court of Justice.

The incident happened on Jan. 10, 2022, when workers employed by FHES were installing vent glass and vent glass weather strips on a greenhouse roof under construction by Lebo Farms, the bulletin said. One of the workers fell through a glass panel 25 feet to the ground and suffered fatal injuries.

While the worker had received training and was wearing a fall protection harness, the harness’ lanyard was not connected. The bulletin said FHES did not ensure the worker had received appropriate information and supervision and that Lebo Farms did not ensure the worker was wearing appropriate fall arrest protection while on the roof.