An Ottawa-based construction company has been fined $50,000 after a local employee suffered serious injuries due to the company's October 2005 violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The company, which is identified as 2002236 Ontario Inc., was fined for failing to ensure there were guardrails around a basement stair opening in an unlit, partially built home in Metcalfe, causing the injured party to fall about three metres through the opening onto the concrete floor below.

The worker had been delivering insulation to the house on Oct. 24, 2005 when he fell, suffering multiple fractures to the pelvis. The worker was then unable to move and had to stay in the position for an hour until the homeowner arrived and heard the driver's calls.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that there were no stairs installed at the location and no guardrail around the stair opening.

In addition to the $50,000 fine, the contractor was ordered to pay a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, which is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.