Report from the government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’
A worker, employed by Allied Tooling Technologies Inc., a manufacturer of automotive, aerospace and industrial parts, was fatally injured while operating a CNC lathe machine. The company failed, as an employer, to ensure that the machine was equipped with a guard that prevented access to an exposed moving part, contrary to section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and section 24 of Ontario Regulation 851/90.
On December 18, 2022, a worker was operating a computer numerical control (CNC) lathe machine alone at the workplace when they were fatally injured.
Two co-workers later found the worker trapped inside the lathe, which had stopped. The machine is designed to be operated with its sliding door closed and is equipped with an interlock device that stops the machine when the door is open.
However, a Ministry of Labour investigation found that the interlock device had been bypassed, allowing the machine to operate at full speed even with the door open.
The investigation concluded that the exposed moving parts of the machine (the chuck and workpiece) were not adequately guarded, as required by section 24 of Ontario Regulation 851.
Following a guilty plea in the Ontario Court of Justice in Mississauga, the company was fined $120,000 by Justice of the Peace Sapna Butany-Goyal; Crown Counsel was Neil Gobardhan.
The court also 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.
My opinion
The law(s) in contravention:
Allied Tooling Technologies Inc., was found guilty of a contravention of the Ontario ‘Industrial Establishments’ sector regulation 851/90, section 24 which states,
“Where a machine or prime mover or transmission equipment has an exposed moving part that may endanger the safety of any worker, the machine or prime mover or transmission equipment shall be equipped with and guarded by a guard or other device that prevents access to the moving part.”
This is contrary to the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), section 25, subsection 1(c) which states,
“An employer shall ensure that,
(c) the measures and procedures prescribed are carried out in the workplace.”
This is another milestone for me as an author, post #1700, yet the message is still not getting out there. The industrial sector, still has not bought into the fact that machine guarding, more than anything else, is far and away, the most prominent deadly workplace hazard. The numbers do not lie.
If you are part of an industrial company, please review the subheading of “Machine Guarding” for the blog and see for your self.
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs including ‘Machine Guarding’.
Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.
We can also be reached at
Ensure your workplace is a safe place.
Remember – In Ontario, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
CEO & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.