Excerpt from the OH&S Canada magazine
More than $60,000 in fines have been handed down after a workers fingers were amputated at a manufacturing facility in Winnipeg.
On July 12, 2012, Cedorath Plating Co. Ltd., pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to ensure that a punch press machine had safeguards to prevent a worker from coming into contact with points of the machine were material is cut, shaped or bored.
In March of 2010, a 44-year-old worker at the company was working at the machine when the top plate was activated and pressed down over his left hand, severing three of his fingers, notes a statement from SAFE Manitoba.
My opinion
“Machine Guarding” is something that’s needed on any jobsite be it construction, industrial, mining, or in healthcare.
In Ontario, the ‘Industrial’ regulation 851/90 has a few sections covering machine guarding.
For example, section 24 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.”
Section 25 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.”
There is also a section covered when engineering has to sign off on basic machine design (which includes guarding) and, if there is an accident or injury because of the engineering approval stamp, the engineering can be found guilty of negligence.
Section 31 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, (OHSA) section 2 states,
“A professional engineer as defined in the Professional Engineers Act, contravenes this Act if, as a result of his or her advice that is given or his or her certification required under this Act that is made negligently or incompetently, a worker is endangered.”
All in all, the worker MUST be protected and the employer shall ensure that all guarding for any machine meets proper engineering standards.
Remember – In Canada, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs including ‘Due Diligence’, Machine Guarding’ and ‘Standard Operating Procedures’. Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.