Excerpt from the government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’
Irving Tissue Corporation/Les Papier Irving Incorporee, a company headquartered in New Brunswick, pleaded guilty and has been fined $50,000 after a worker suffered an injury while performing maintenance on a machine.
The incident took place at the company’s paper production facility on Weston Road in Toronto on July 18, 2014.
The worker stopped the machine, which makes toilet paper, and changed the machine’s perforating blades. The worked noted that dust had accumulated under the anvil heads of the machine. The worker used one hand to remove dust from under one of the anvil heads when the anvil head came down. The worker’s hand was freed from the machine with the assistance of a co-worker and supervisor. As a result of the incident, the worker suffered injuries to the hand.
A Ministry of Labour investigation determined that at the time of the incident the anvil head was not blocked to prevent its movement while maintenance work was being performed, and that the cleaning and maintenance procedures for the machine did not include the use of blocks.
The company pleaded guilty to failing as an employer to ensure that safety procedures were carried out as required under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and was fined $50,000 by Justice of the Peace David R. Keilty in Toronto court on January 28, 2016.
My opinion
The law(s) in contravention:
Irving Tissue Corporation was found guilty of a contravention of the Ontario ‘Industrial’ Regulation 851/90, section 75(b) 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,
(b) any part that has been stopped and that may subsequently move and endanger a worker has been blocked to prevent its movement.”
Irving Tissue Corporation was also found guilty of a contravention of the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act, section 25(1)(c) which states,
“An employer shall ensure that,
(c) the measures and procedures prescribed are carried out in the workplace.”
This is really just about a set of written work instructions that were not completed and the worker not receiving enough information necessary to do the job safely.
All workers are entitled to receive enough information to complete a task. If the company does not know this then more accidents like this one will occur and there are more sections that can used to encourage employers to safeguard their employees.
Ensure your workplace is a safe place.
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’, ‘Lockout and Tagout’ 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.