Blog Post #1548 – Vegetable Processor Fined

Excerpt from the OH&S Canada magazine (December 2016)

A vegetable-processing company in the community of Delhi, Ontario was fined $54,000 on October 20, 2016over a worker’s permanent injury.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL), employees of Southcoast IQF Inc., were processing mushrooms with an auger conveyor and a cutter in the plant on November 06, 2014, when a jam occurred in the entry chute of the conveyor. A worker who tried to clear the jam slipped and made contact with the cutter’s moving blades.

The MOL found that the company did not equip the conveyor with a guard to keep workers from the blades.

My opinion

The law(s) in contravention:

Southcoast IQF Inc., was found guilty of a contravention of the Ontario ‘Industrial Establishments’ sector regulation 851/90, section 24 which states,

“Where a machine or prime mover or transmission equipment has an exposed moving part that may endanger the safety of any worker, the machine or prime mover or transmission equipment shall be equipped with and guarded by a guard or other device that prevents access to the moving part.”

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 #1 hazard facing the industrial sector for Ontario. You would think that the equipment was designed with a machine guard of some kind, but I guess not.

Too bad for the employee.

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 

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.