Report from the government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’
A worker, employed by Grosnor Industries Inc. of Etobicoke, Ontario, a business that produces textile samples for clients in roofing, flooring, tile and siding industries, was critically injured by an unguarded punch press machine. Grosnor Industries Inc. failed, as an employer, to ensure that the machine was equipped with a guard or other device to prevent worker access to the exposed moving part, as required by section 24 of Ontario Regulation 851/90, contrary to section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
On July 21, 2023, a worker employed by a temporary help agency was changing dies on a punch press machine. The worker reached through an unguarded gap to clean debris near the punch press blades.
A second worker, who did not see the worker, activated the punch press machine, causing a critical injury to the worker performing the cleaning. Grosnor Industries Inc. failed to ensure that the exposed moving part generating a shearing hazard on the punch press was equipped with a guard or other device to prevent worker access.
Since the incident, the company has invested significant resources in upgrading safety guarding throughout the facility.
Following a guilty plea in the Ontario Provincial Offences Court in Toronto, the company was fined $50,000 by Justice of the Peace Pete Karageorgos. The Crown Counsel were Alicia Gordon-Fagan and student-at-law, Emily Jin.
The court also 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:
Grosnor Industries 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 was 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.”
The number one hazard in the ‘Industrial Establishments’ sector for the province of Ontario has been, overwhelmingly, “Machine Guarding”.
If Grosnor had taken the time to read almost any of the industrial accidents discussed by my blog, they would not have been so unprepared.
Too bad for the workers.
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs including ‘Machine Guarding’ and ‘Standard Operating Procedures’.
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.