Ontario contractor fined $80,000 for unsafe excavation that ruptured gas pipelines
TORONTO (UI) — Oasis Pool and Landscaping has been fined $80,000 after being found guilty of eight offences under Ontario’s Technical Standards and Safety Act for unsafe excavation work that damaged gas pipelines in North York in 2024.
The Ontario Court of Justice issued the penalty following an investigation by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), which determined the contractor failed to supervise its employee and ignored key safety procedures while excavating.
In both June and July 2024 incidents, the company struck gas pipelines with an excavator after failing to hand-dig within one meter of the line as required by safety code. Investigators found that after each strike, an employee sealed the damaged line and continued working without reporting the incident — a violation that posed a serious risk to public safety.
The pipeline strikes caused gas outages to more than 50 nearby homes. In one instance, the company also resumed excavation without referencing its locate information, further increasing the risk of another strike.
“This prosecution marks the third conviction for gas pipeline damage in Ontario this year,” said Owen Kennedy, TSSA’s director of fuels safety. “In this case, the company involved even failed to use the obtained locates in one of the incidents. Digging without knowing the location of buried utilities is irresponsible, as it significantly increases the risk of damaging gas pipelines and other underground infrastructure.”
TSSA’s latest Public Safety Report shows pipeline strikes account for more than 60% of all reported fuel-related incidents in fiscal year 2025. Such incidents can lead to gas leaks, explosions, property damage, injuries, or fatalities.
The agency reminds contractors and homeowners to contact Ontario One Call before starting any excavation to locate underground utilities such as gas, hydro, and telecommunications lines. Contractors must also comply with CSA Z247-15: Damage Prevention for the Protection of Underground Infrastructure, which outlines national standards for safe digging practices.
Gas line damage or suspected leaks must be reported immediately to TSSA at 1-877-682-8772.
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