The Yukon government is among the worst offenders of the 24 companies and individuals fined over the summer for health and safety infractions.

Eight fines were levied in June, followed by five in July, four in August and seven in September, according to figures published Monday by the Yukon Workers Compensation Health and Safety Board.

The dates of the fines, however, do not necessarily reflect the dates of the infractions.

The board recently adopted a policy of publishing the names of companies fined for safety infractions as a means of encouraging greater efforts to cut down on workplace injuries.

On Monday, it released the list of fines assessed throughout the summer, but will now be publishing it monthly.

The Department of Highway and Public Works, which includes the property management branch, was fined $2,500 in September for failing to provide proper training for employees working high above the ground.

The base amount for the fine was bumped up by 40 per cent to $3,500 because of the seriousness of the infraction, the board pointed out in its ruling.

The department was also fined $1,500 – $1,000 as the flat rate with another $500 tacked on because of the seriousness of the infraction – for not ensuring equipment was fitted with proper safety guards, and procedures to ensure safe working conditions were in place.

It was fined another $1,000 for the same infraction though there was no penalty added for seriousness.

Fines in the last four months were levied for infractions which included failure to provide proper training, not maintaining first aid services, failure to wear proper safety equipment and not ensuring workers were protected by barriers.

The highest fines were assessed against Calgary Tunnelling and Horizontal Augering for a incident in July 2009 resulting in a serious injury.

The company was fined a total of $17,500: three infractions drew fines of $5,000 each, the maximum allowed under the health and safety act, and $2,500 for failing to report the injury to a safety officer.

The size of fines ranged from the the high of $5,000 down to $100 levied against a worker improperly approaching power lines. While the board releases the identity of companies fined, it does not release the identity of individual workers and supervisors who are fined.

Nor does it discuss the details of specific infractions such as the conviction against the government for not providing proper training for employees working high above the ground.

Details of specific incidents are only available if the board publishes its preliminary findings into mishaps as a means of educating workers and companies.