Excerpt from the government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’
Essar Steel Algoma Inc. pleaded guilty and has been fined $60,000 after a worker slipped on ice on the way in to work and was injured.
On the morning of March 11, 2015, an Essar employee was arriving at the mill, walking along a designated walkway employees are required to use. The worker slipped and fell on a build-up of ice in a slope across the walkway, sustaining injuries as a result.
Essar Steel Algoma Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to keep a walkway used by workers free of hazards and/or accumulation of snow or ice. The company was fined $60,000 by Justice of the Peace Paula J. Nichols in Sault Ste. Marie court on July 6, 2016.
Earlier this year the company was fined $100,000 for an August 2014 incident in which three workers were injured in a steam explosion. The company was fined by Justice of the Peace Philip M. Stanghetta in Sault Ste. Marie court on June 8, 2016.
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:
Essar Steel Algoma Inc. was found guilty of a contravention of the Ontario ‘Industrial’ regulation 851/90, section 11(a) which states,
“A floor or other surface used by any worker shall,
(a) be kept free of,
(i) obstructions,
(ii) hazards, and
(iii) accumulations of refuse, snow or ice.”
Essar Steel Algoma Inc. was also found guilty of a contravention of 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.”
I guess I spoke too soon. If the reader is up on all the latest blog posts then the name Essar Steel Algoma regularly occurring. This is NOT the list a company wants to get on to.
I have written up now 4 different blog posts for Essar Steel Algoma. This is very, very uncommon as I may have only one or two that have made the list more than once. Once was all that was needed.
Now I realize that this type of incident/accident is minor in nature, but this particular company needed to hire a no nonsense health and safety professional to change the culture to one of safety. I guess they have not had the opportunity to do so. If they have hired someone, then he/she does not have the clout to make change. Either way, Essar Steel Algoma should get used to the Ministry of Labour (MOL) dropping by quite regularly.
Too bad for the employees. I wonder what is coming next?
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’ 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.