RCMP lay 49 charges against commercial crane inspector for fraud in Fruitvale
By Nelson Daily Staff
As a result of a complaint received from a BC engineer and the tenacity of one RCMP investigator, a 37-year-old Fruitvale man is now facing a total of 49 combined charges for fraud and uttering a forged document.
The RCMP alleged that he inspected commercially operated heavy machinery which included cranes, forklifts, garage hoists without valid certification to do so.
Back in May 2009, the investigator with the RCMP Southeast District General Investigation Section took on the file when the complainant came to police and alleged that Paddy Gene Doherty had conducted inspections at approximately 27 businesses throughout the Kootenay region in no less then 10 communities, while not being certified to do so.
It is alleged that Doherty did so by using the forged signature of the complainant and a forged “Engineer Stamp.” In doing so, Doherty also defrauded these businesses out of approximately $40,000 for the inspection fees charged.
The offences are believed to have occurred between January and June of 2009. The investigator also obtained a warrant for Doherty’s arrest this week and attempts to locate and arrest him are on going.
“More alarming than the monetary loss to the businesses, is the risk to the public and worker’s safety, considering that in some of the cases, the re-inspections by a certified inspector failed the equipment that had previously been approved by Doherty,” said RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.
Although it might not be in the public interest to proceed with further charges against Doherty given the large number of charges already laid, for the purpose of public safety and safe work places, the RCMP do want to make the commercial sector in this area of the province aware.
Any businesses having had inspections performed by Doherty during the period of time that he was not certified to do so may need to consider having their equipment re-inspected.
Background
Inspections are needed before the erection of a tower crane on an annual basis.
This includes forklifts, hoists in a garage, mobile cranes on vehicles and other heavy equipment.
A person using non-destructive testing methodology (NDT) and certified by the Canadian General Standards Board is needed for this inspections who then sends their report to a professional engineer to review and provide a stamped certificate.
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulations for cranes and Hoists, under Structural Inspections state:
“Before erecting a tower crane, the structural components of the crane must be inspected to determine their integrity by a qualified person using non-destructive testing (NDT) methods meeting the requirements of the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB), and certified by a professional engineer as safe for use after the inspection.”
Checks on Doherty’s certification on the NDT Canadian website showed that it had expired on Dec. 31, 2008 and he no longer held CBSG Level II certification since that time.
