The department hired the contractor to conduct repairs to the decking of the Hammond River No. 2 Bridge, which was built in 1912.
The excavator was carrying a heavy load of wood when it crashed through and got stuck, suspended between the deck and the embankment below.
The bridge had a weight limit of 12 tonnes, according to a posted sign. The 312C L excavator is listed as weighing more than 13 tonnes on the manufacturer's website.
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure failed to take adequate steps to ensure the safety of people during repairs to the covered bridge in French Village last fall, WorkSafeNB alleges in charges laid earlier this week.
The department is accused of failing to take every reasonable precaution to ensure the health and safety of its employees, as well as the the health and safety of anyone having access to the project site on Route 860 at the end of French Village Road in southwestern New Brunswick.
WorkSafeNB laid the two charges under the New Brunswick Occupational Health and Safety Act in Saint John provincial court on Wednesday.
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has not entered any pleas yet. Judge Marco Cloutier set the matter over until Dec. 11
The new bridge is expected to be open to traffic in January 2018, the department has said.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/transportation-charges-worksafe-bridge-excavator-french-village-1.4343745
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