Gate fell, worker seriously injured
K. M. S. Tools & Equipment of Coquitlam, B.C. has been fined $64,650.
WorkSafeBC investigated an incident at this firm's car parts sales facility. At store opening time, an electric hoist mounted above the building's steel security gate was activated to open the gate.
The hoist cable broke and the gate fell, striking and seriously injuring a worker who was standing underneath the gate.
WorkSafeBC determined that the hoist assembly was built in a way that the cable was in contact with the torsion spring for the adjacent garage door and entranceway. This meant that the garage door opening and closing caused the spring to rub against the cable, contributing to its eventual failure.
In addition, the firm did not conduct regular inspections, and lacked a comprehensive health and safety program.
Overall, the firm failed to ensure the health and safety of its workers. The firm also failed to ensure that load lines on hoists did not contact anything other than the load block and the sheaves and hoist drum. These were both high-risk violations.
Source: WorkSafeBC
