Two Ontario companies fined after workers injured
January 10, 2011
By Manufacturing AUTOMATION
Imasar Engineering Inc., a Concord, Ont.-based company offering consulting engineering services in workplace safety, was fined $80,000 on December 20, 2010, for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured.
On December 12, 2008, an Imasar consultant was conducting a pre-start health and safety review of a tile backing line at the InterfaceFlor Canada Inc. carpet manufacturing plant in Belleville. The tile backing line was in full operation as the consultant began to point out an in-running nip hazard between two rollers. The consultant’s arm was caught between the rollers and severely injured.
A Ministry of Labour investigation found that Imasar failed to take the reasonable precaution of providing clear instructions and procedures for a worker to follow when inspecting unguarded moving parts of equipment.
Imasar Engineering Inc. pleaded guilty to failing, as an employer, to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker.
Candy manufacturer Cadbury Adams Canada Inc. was fined $55,000 on December 16, 2010, for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that caused a worker to be injured.
On September 12, 2009, a worker at the company’s Toronto manufacturing plant was operating a machine that presses hot candy through rollers to flatten it into a long ribbon. While attempting to clear a jam in the machine, the worker’s hand was pulled into the rollers and injured.
A Ministry of Labour investigation found that there was no guard on the machine to prevent the worker’s hand from getting caught in the rollers.
Cadbury Adams Canada Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the machine was guarded to prevent a worker from accessing its pinch point.
In addition to the fines, the court imposed a 25-percent victim fine surcharge on both companies, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
