Blog Post #197 – Separate Accidents Spur High Fines at Stelco

Excerpt from the OH&S Canada Magazine

An Ontario steelmaker has received a total fine of $400,000 following separate incidents at the company’s operations in Hamilton, Ontario in which three workers received serious injuries.

Stelco Inc. entered the guilty pleas under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act in April. The Ontario Court of Justice heard that, on June 17, 2005, two workers suffered injuries when the company failed to take the necessary precautions to ensure that a shear blade was moved in such a way that its movement did not endanger the safety of a worker. The breach resulted in a $160,000 fine, the MOL reports.

In a separate incident, this time on November 11, 2005, a worker lost a leg below the knee after becoming pinned between equipment at Stelco’s sister plant. The company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that adjustments, repairs and maintenance were performed on the machine only when motion that may endanger a worker had been stopped, and that any part that had been stopped that may subsequently move and endanger a worker, had been blocked, the ministry reports in a statement. The court imposed a $180,000 fine.

A third guilty plea, relating to a hearing on February 2, 2006, cited the failure to ensure a safety gate on a blast furnace at a Stelco location was fenced or guarded as required by provincial regulations. On this count, the company received a $60,000 fine.

My opinion,

I could not resist ensuring that the 200th blog posting concerned an extreme case of employee neglect. Stelco acquired 3 fines during an eight month time frame. The total, not including the 25% surcharge, was $400,000. Three workers suffered injuries and it looks like Stelco did not apply any safeguards at their facility, even after the MOL attempted to enforce the law and make Stelco assume permanent corrective action to the situation.

On behalf of HRS Group Inc., I would like to thank all those who have been my daily inspiration to continue to research and report all disreputable conduct occurring in the occupational workforce. Your kind words and comments have kept me going through all the hard work, and yes, it is time-consuming to read all the comments, edit them and still create more at the pace I have been. I do not want to lose the readership by becoming stale. I also welcome those that are only now reading the material from this site. I hope you enjoy the material as it seems some of my long term fans have up to now.

My inspiration comes from all of you and I promise to stay dedicated to the readership and continue to provide postings on occupational health and safety for as long as you will have me.

Remember — In Ontario, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”

HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety need. 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
HRS Group Inc.