Worker was not wearing eye protection at the time of incident
Ontario employer Humphrey Fleet Service Inc. was fined $55,000 after one of its workers was injured in the workplace.
After a guilty plea, the employer was also tasked to pay a 25 per cent victim surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act, to be credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
The incident happened on April 20 this year, when the worker was removing and replacing a rear light assembly on a customer’s trailer in one of the company’s repair bays.
After re-installing the light box, the worker removed the silicone seal using a grinder equipped with a wire wheel head.
In the process, a piece of the wire was ejected from the wheel head, injuring the worker.
The Ontario government noted that the worker was not wearing any eye protection at the time, but it did not provide further details about the injury.
A Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development investigation found that Humphrey Fleet Service employed several methods to remind workers to wear eye protection. However, none were documented or enforced.
“Humphrey Fleet Service Inc. failed to ensure that the worker was wearing eye protection appropriate in the circumstances, as prescribed by section 81 of the Regulation for Industrial Establishments, and contrary to section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act,” said the provincial government.
Previously, Peel Meat Packers Ltd., another Ontario employer, was fined $60,000 after one of its workers was critically injured by a male cattle in the workplace.
Also, Northern Alberta lumber company La Crete Sawmills Ltd. was tasked to pay a $295,000 creative sentence after one of its workers died in the workplace.
