Ontario connectivity manufacturer fined $70K for critical worker injury

September 12, 2019 – Belden Canada Inc., a manufacturer of connectivity and networking products in Cobourg, Ontario, has been fined $70,000 by the Ontario Ministry of Labour after a worker was critically injured in operating machinery at its facility.

Belden Canada pleaded guilty to the offence, which took place February 15, 2018. The conviction took place September 11, 2019, at which time 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.

On the date of the incident, a worker was working on a machine used to process wire. The wire arrives wound around a spool and is then fed from the spool into the machine.
Almost immediately upon starting the machine, the worker became entangled in several loops of the wire.

The machine had doors and a locking mechanism but no key or tool is required to open this lock; therefore it is not considered to be a fixed guard.

The worker called for help and was helped by co-workers until paramedics arrived.

The Industrial Establishments Regulation states that a machine shall be guarded so that the material being processed will not endanger the safety of a worker. Section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act states that the employer must ensure the regulations are followed.

Consequently, the ministry found that Belden Canada Inc. violated the act.