Blog Post #261 – Slacan Industries Inc. Fined $70,000 after Worker Injured

Excerpt from the Government of Ontario’s ‘Newsroom’

Slacan Industries Inc., a hardware manufacturer in Brantford, was fined $70,000 on November 23, 2010, for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that caused a worker to be injured.

On Feb 23, 2010, a worker was using a die machine to shape steel parts. After placing the product in the die, the worker’s hand was pinched between the die and the steel being shaped. The worker lost several fingers.

A Ministry of Labour investigation determined that the die machine was not guarded to prevent the worker from accessing the pinch point of the machine.

Slacan Industries Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the machine was guarded by a guard or other device that prevented access to its pinch point.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Barry Quinn. 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:

Slacan Industries Inc. was found guilty of a contravention of  section 25 of the Ontario ‘Industrial’ regulation 851/90 which 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.”

Well, we have another company that did not read the appropriate sections of the ACT and regulations. As stated just recently, the sections on ‘Machine Guarding’, including pinch points, begins at section 24 and continues forward. Why do companies continues to ignore the book or do not have the appropriate person on staff to advise the company on their responsibilities?

Please look towards Carswell Printing and purchase the 2012 condensed version of the ACT and regulations. It covers some of the following:

1) The Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA);
2) Ontario ‘Industrial’ regulation 851/90;
3) Ontario ‘Construction’ regulation 213/91;
4) Ontario ‘Healthcare’ regulation 67/93;
5) Ontario ‘Mining and Mining Plant’ regulation 854/90;

6) Ontario regulation 833 — Control of Exposure to Biological or chemical agents; and
7) Among others (the only significant regulation not in the Carswell is the Mining regulation 854)

It is much easier to read and has only on index instead of 2 poorly located indexes that are found in the government issued versions.

Remember — In Ontario, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”

Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.

Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Foundation Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.

1 thought on “Blog Post #261 – Slacan Industries Inc. Fined $70,000 after Worker Injured”

  1. With every little thing that seems to be building inside this subject material, all your perspectives are quite stimulating. In any case I did appreciate reading it.

    Reply

Leave a Comment