Newfoundland chicken processor fined after worker loses fingers

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — A Newfoundland and Labrador company has pleaded guilty to charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker lost three fingers.
The provincial government says chicken processor and producer Country Ribbon Inc. was ordered to pay fines totalling $25,000 during a court appearance today.

The worker was injured while cleaning a machine at the company's processing facility in the St. John's area in December 2009.

Country Ribbon pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to ensure its workers and supervisors were familiar with health or safety hazards, and failing to ensure that equipment was used according to safe work practices.

A third charge against the company and a charge against a supervisor were withdrawn.

The government says the company will pay $10,000 for each of the two charges, a victim fine surcharge of $3,000 and $2,000 to be used for public education of occupational health and safety.