Excerpt from the Ontario government’s ‘Newsroom’
Aluminum Window Designs Ltd., a Woodbridge manufacturer of aluminum window and door products, was fined $75,000 after a worker was injured.
On December 2, 2011, a worker suffered serious hand injuries while operating a table saw at the Aluminum Window Designs Ltd. factory at 440 Hanlan Road in Woodbridge.
After a trial, Aluminum Window Designs Ltd. was found guilty of failing, as an employer, to ensure that the table saw was equipped with and guarded by a guard or other device that prevented access to an exposed moving part.
The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Philip N. Solomon. In addition to the fine, the court 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:
Aluminum Window Designs Ltd. was found guilty of a contravention of section 24 of the Ontario ‘Industrial’ regulation 851/90 which states,
“Where a machine has an exposed moving part that may endanger the safety of any worker, the machine shall be equipped with and guarded by a guard or other device that prevents access to the moving part.”
Aluminum Windows Design Ltd. was also found guilty of a contravention section 25, subsection 1 (c) of the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) which states,
An employer shall ensure that,
“The measures and procedures prescribed are carried out in the workplace.”
How many people, over the years have removed the protective guard on his/her table saw just because it was more of a hindrance that a safety aid? People just do not take their own safety as seriously as they should. Now, move that attitude to the workplace and one can see why a stupid accident such as this one happened.
Ensure your workplace is a safe place. Machine guarding is there for a reason and cannot protect the worker if it has been removed.
Period!
Remember – In Ontario, “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.