Excerpt from the government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’
A worker was injured by a cutting machine after lifting a shield to hold material in position. The worker should have been protected from the hazard. The worker was employed by Coreslab Structures of Dundas, Ontario, a producer of precast-prestressed concrete products.
On August 3, 2018, a Coreslab worker attempted to operate a shear machine to cut rebar. The worker lifted a shield to hold the rebar in position. When the worker activated the shear machine a clamp closed, resulting in injuries.
Following a guilty plea in provincial offences court in Hamilton, Coreslab Structures was fined $90,000 by Justice of the Peace A. James Child; 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:
Coreslag Structures was found guilty of a contravention of the Ontario ‘Industrial’ regulation 851/90, section 25 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.
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.”
‘Machine Guarding’ is the number one hazard facing the Ontario ‘Industrial’ sector today.
If the reader will look up the sub-heading of ‘machine guarding’ on this site, the reader will see the very large number of guarding accidents and most come from the ‘Industrial’ sector.
I guess the message is still not getting through!
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
CEO & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.
I don’t think I have read anything better.