Excerpt from the government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’
A worker, employed by Thyssenkrupp Elevator (Canada) Limited of Ottawa, Ontario, was injured while repairing an elevator that had not been properly locked out.
On February 5, 2019, a worker and co-worker were in the process of checking the gap clearance on the recently replaced brake assembly on an elevator. The task involved using a gauge to measure the gap between the drum and the brake pad.
The co-worker was at the control panel of the elevator. The controls were set on manual override. The co-worker pressed the control to move the elevator in the up direction which resulted in the sheave (pulley) rotating counter-clockwise. This created a pinch point between the cables and the sheave.
The worker was caught in this pinch point; an arm was pulled into the cables and rotated at least half-way around the sheave. The co-worker immediately reversed the direction of the elevator which freed the arm. The worker sustained injuries and required surgery.
One of the primary factors that caused this incident was that the elevator motion was not stopped (locked out) prior to work being performed on it.
Following a guilty plea, Thyssenkrupp Elevator (Canada) Limited was fined $55,000 in provincial offences court in Ottawa by Justice of the Peace Brian Mackey; Crown Counsel Alicia Gordon-Fagan.
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:
Thyssenkrupp Elevator was found guilty of a contravention of the Ontario ‘Industrial Establishments’ sector regulation 851/90, section 75 which states,
“A part of a machine, transmission machinery, device or thing shall be cleaned, oiled, adjusted, repaired or have maintenance work performed on it only when,
(a) motion that may endanger a worker has stopped; and
(b) any part that has been stopped and that may subsequently move and endanger a worker has been blocked to prevent its movement.”
This is in direct contravention of 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 not the first report about our friends at Thyssenkrupp. Please read blog posts: #282, #386 and #654. It seems that lockout and tagout has been a problem for them for quite a while now. I guess they never listen.
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs including ‘Electrical Safety Awareness’ and ‘Lockout and Tagout’. 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.