Excerpt from the government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’
On March 11, 2017, a worker was critically injured when connecting coils to a hoist with a chain. A coil fell forward and knocked the worker to the floor, resulting in critical injuries. The accident happened at the Arcelormittal plant at 1330 Burlington Street East, Hamilton, Ontario, a maker of steel products.
A worker was engaged in the handling and storage of oil tempered wire coils at the workplace. The coils are stored upright, leaning against a rotating block, until moved to the strapping area.
The worker was working as a line blocker, which involved connecting the coils to a hoist so that the coils could be moved to the strapping area. As per established procedure, the worker attempted to place a chain around a coil. The coil fell forward, knocked the worker to the floor and injured the worker.
To prevent coils from tipping, falling or endangering a worker, the company required workers to lean the coils on a 10-degree angle but did not specify how this task was to be performed.
Following a guilty plea, the company was fined $75,000 in provincial offences court in Hamilton by Justice of the Peace Mitchell H. Baker; Crown Counsel Marco Galluzzo.
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:
Arcelormittal was found guilty of a contravention of the Ontario ‘Industrial’ sector regulation 851/90, section 45, subsection (b) which states,
“Material, articles or things,
(b) shall be transported, placed or stored so that the material, articles or things,
(i) will not tip, collapse or fall, and
(ii) can be removed or withdrawn without endangering the safety of any worker.”
No job description, no training, no proper supervision; all items that should have been in place prior to any work that was to be done.
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs, including ‘Due Diligence’ and ‘Material Handling’ safety awareness.
Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.
Ensure your workplace is a safe place.
Remember – In Ontario, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.