GFL Environmental Services fined $130,000 for 4 workers’ injuries

GFL Environmental Services Inc. has been fined $130,000 after four workers were injured in a flash fire at a Pickering, Ont., worksite.

Following a guilty plea in the Ontario Court of Justice in Whitby, GFL Environmental Services Inc., the court also imposed a 25 per cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development noted that the surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund used to assist victims of crime.

Details of the incident

On April 30, 2024, workers at 1070 Toy Avenue in Pickering were offloading flammable solvents from a vacuum truck into a storage tanker, the ministry said. At the same time, other workers positioned a hydrovac truck in an adjacent bay to offload a wastewater and slurry mixture.

During the process, flammable vapours were released and drawn into the idling hydrovac truck's air intake, according to the ministry. This created an ignition source that caused a flash fire between the two trucks.

Four workers were injured in the incident. The ministry did not detail the nature or severity of the workers' injuries in its account of the case.

The Vaughan-based waste management and soil remediation company was convicted of failing, as an employer, to ensure that a process likely to produce flammable vapours capable of forming an explosive mixture with air was carried out in a manner that prevented exposure to ignition sources. 

Section 63(c) of Ontario Regulation 851 requires that a process likely to produce a gas, vapour, dust or fume capable of forming an explosive mixture with air be carried out in an area that has no potential sources of ignition, the ministry noted.

How can employers deal with flash fires?

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) says that employers can prevent flash fires by eliminating ignition sources, ensuring proper ventilation, and using approved containers for storing flammable materials. Critical safety measures include implementing strict hot work permits and providing appropriate fire-resistant (FR) clothing to workers.

Here are some things that employers and workers must keep in mind so they can be prepared in case of a flash fire, according to CCOHS:

• Make sure that appropriate fire extinguishers are available.
• Be aware of at least two different exit paths in the event of fire.
• Make sure that eyewash and emergency shower are readily available in the immediate work area. These devices must be tested regularly.
• Have spill control procedures and equipment ready (e.g., absorbent spill control materials, PPE, non-sparking tools, etc.). Avoid using combustible materials (such as paper towels or sawdust) to clean up or absorb spills.
• Remove contaminated clothing and leather shoes or boots since they can be a severe fire hazard. Wash contaminated items, immediately and thoroughly in water before re-wearing or discarding.
• Immediately report leaks to your supervisor, warn people in the area, and move to a safe location, if necessary.