42-year-old worker dies after being pulled into machinery

A 42-year-old worker has died after being pulled into machinery at a food manufacturing plant in southern Manitoba, according to Pembina Valley Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Police said officers were called on Jan. 15 at approximately 11:40 a.m. to “a workplace accident that occurred at a food manufacturing factory in the Rhineland Industrial Park just north of Altona.”

Emergency response and outcome

Upon arrival, RCMP members found the worker being treated by paramedics.

“Upon arrival, a 42-year-old male was already being treated by EMS personnel for severe injuries he sustained after being pulled into machinery,” Pembina Valley RCMP said in a statement. The worker was transported to Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, “where he later succumbed to his injuries,” according to Manitoba RCMP.

The nature of the machinery involved and the circumstances leading up to the incident have not been released. The identity of the worker has not yet been made public.

Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health has been notified and has opened an investigation into the fatal incident. “Manitoba Workplace Health and Safety were contacted and are investigating,” RCMP said.

Pembina Valley RCMP said they are also continuing their own investigation into the death. “Pembina Valley RCMP also continue to investigate,” the police service said.

Safety around machinery

According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), hazards associated with working near or on machinery vary depending on the exact machine used but can include exposure to:

• moving parts (e.g., risk of injuries from entanglement, friction, abrasion, cutting, severing, shearing, stabbing, puncturing, impact, crushing, drawing-in or trapping, etc.)
• energy (e.g., electrical, electromagnetic, magnetic, etc.)
• heat or cold
• noise
• vibration
• radiation
• gas or liquid under pressure (e.g., injuries from injection or ejection by hydraulic systems, pneumatic systems, compressed air, paint sprayers, etc.)
• psychosocial hazards (e.g., stress, job content, work organization, cognitive factors, etc.)

“Because there are many different types of machines and processes, a risk assessment should be conducted for each machine or situation, and in some cases, before each use,” said the CCOHS. “It may be necessary to involve individuals with specialized or technical expertise (i.e., engineer, safety professional, manufacturer, etc).”