Canada Labour Code Prosecution: Rogers Communications Canada Inc.

The incident

On January 26, 2022, an employee from Verrascend Technologies Inc. (herein referred to as Verrascend) fell approximately 120 metres while installing the final antenna on a telecommunications tower, resulting in a fatal fall.

The telecommunications tower is located on a worksite owned by Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (herein referred to as Rogers). Rogers owns the tower and grants contractors access to its site to perform work.

Prosecution

Following an investigation by the Labour Program, Rogers was charged with offences under Part II of the Canada Labour Code (the Code).

On October 29, 2025, Rogers pled guilty under subsection 148(1) of Part II of the Code to the following offences:

• failing to provide or put in place a fall-protection system in work performed from a structure at a height of 3 metres or more, as prescribed by paragraph 12.07(1)(a) of the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, contrary to paragraph 125(1)(l) of the Code
• failing to ensure that the Verrascend employee or other persons granted access to the work place, and who were using a personal fall-protection system, wore and used a full body harness, as prescribed by 12.09(6) of the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, contrary to paragraph 125(1)(w) of the Code
• failing to ensure that the Verrascend employee or other persons granted access to the workplace, and who were using protection equipment, were provided with instruction by a qualified person in the use of that equipment, as prescribed by subsection 12.2(1) of the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, contrary to paragraph 125(1)(w) of the Code

Rogers was ordered by the Ontario Court of Justice to pay a fine of $260,000.