Blog Post #426 – Continuous Color Coat Limited Fined $60,000 after Worker Injured

Excerpt from the Government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’

Continuous Color Coat Limited, carrying on business as Metal Koting, a company that manufactures and supplies custom coil coated products, was fined $60,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured.

On September 29, 2010, a worker was feeding a sheet metal coil into a paint machine at the company’s facility at 1430 Martin Grove Road in Toronto. The worker was having difficulty feeding the coil into the paint machine’s rollers because the steel was oily. A second worker offered to help and “jogged” the machine while the first worker placed a strip of paper on top of the sheet of steel at the pinch-point area of the rollers, which would help with feeding the steel into the paint machine’s rollers. The worker’s hand was drawn in to the rollers, causing injuries.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the paint machine’s rollers were not protected by a guard.

Continuous Color Coat Limited, carrying on business as Metal Koting, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the in-running nip hazard on the paint machine was equipped with a guard or other device that prevented access to its pinch point.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace A. Johnston. 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.

My opinion

The law(s) in contravention:

Continuous Color Coat Limited was found guilty of a contravention of section 25 of the Ontario ‘Industrial’ regulation 851/90 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.”

Does it seem we have had a few machine guarding accidents lately, at least in the ‘Industrial’ sector? It sure does!

Section 25 of the ‘Industrial’ regulation 851/90 has been used a few times in a row. I do not know if the events are a coincidence or not but it seems that we had no reported ‘Pinch point’ issues for quite a while and all of a sudden we have several.

One of the things I like to do is add the new reports to my p/point presentations in the numerous courses HRS Group provides. ‘Machine Guarding’ updates look to keep me busy for the next hour or so.

The price of doing business!

Remember – In Ontario, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”

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 

‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.

Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Foundation Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRSGroup Inc.

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