Blog Post #365 – Electro-Pack Inc. Fined $50,000 after Worker Injured

Excerpt from the Government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’

Electro-Pack Inc., a Toronto manufacturer of packaging, was fined $50,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured.
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Blog Post #261 – Slacan Industries Inc. Fined $70,000 after Worker Injured

Excerpt from the Government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’

Slacan Industries Inc., a hardware manufacturer in Brantford, was fined $70,000 on November 23, 2010, for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that caused a worker to be injured.
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Blog Post #259 – Lecours Lumber Co. Limited Fined $50,000 after Worker Injured

Excerpt from the Government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’

Lecours Lumber Co. Limited, owner and operator of a sawmill in Calstock, was fined $50,000 on November 23, 2010, for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that caused an injury to a worker.

On June 24, 2009, a worker was cleaning debris from a debarker, a machine that removes bark from logs. The debarker suddenly restarted and the worker was caught in a pinch point of the machine. The worker’s shoulder was injured.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the debarker did not have a guard to protect the worker from accessing the pinch point.

Lecours Lumber Co. Limited pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the debarker was equipped with, and guarded by, a guard or other device to prevent access to the pinch point.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Jean-Marie Blier. In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

The law(s) broken,

Lecours Lumber Co. was found guilty of violating section 25 of the Ontario ‘Industrial’ regulation 851 which states,

“An in-running nip hazard or any part of a machine, device or thing that may endanger the safety of any worker shall be equipped with and guarded by a guard or other device that prevents access to the pinch point.”

My opinion,

The Carswell version of the OHSA and regulations is a definite upgrade when it comes to health and safety research. Starting at section 24 of the Industrial regulation 851 the heading shows “Machine Guarding” and any type of issue that has been determined as a possible machine guarding hazard should be researched here. The Carswell is easy to read and does have only one index instead of the two in the government’s version. Please review the appropriate section before any works begins. It can be a tough situation to deal with if work is being done, on a regular basis, and the law is not being met. It does happen all the time and companies that are up on the legislation are usually out there for a longer period of time.

Remember – In Ontario, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”

‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.

Daniel L. Beal
VP & Senior Trainer
HRSGroup Inc.

Blog Post #254 – (MOL) Ministry of Labour Sets Sights on Machine Guards

Excerpt from the OH&S Canada magazine (June 2000)

Ministry of Labour (MOL) inspectors will step up enforcement of safety violations involving machinery under an enforcement initiative that will focus on machine guards and lockout.

Fatalities due to guarding and lockout violations totaled eight in 1999, including three young workers, double the four recorded in 1997. Critical injuries, including a number of amputations, rose to 95 from 76 during the same period.
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