Ontario employer fined $80,000 for worker injury

Ontario employer Stackpole International Powder Metal, Ltd. was fined $80,000 after one worker was injured in the workplace.

Following in Provincial Offences Court, Stratford, the employer must also pay a 25 per cent victim fine 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 in Toronto on May 29, 2023, when a worker was asked to perform a tool change on a grinding machine designed to finish metal parts.

While the worker was in the process of the tool change, another worker turned the grinding machine on. This resulted in an injury.

An investigation by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development found that a fixed barrier guard at the front of the machine that protected workers from moving parts had been removed.

“Stackpole International Powder Metal, Ltd. (the Company) failed to ensure that machinery being operated was equipped with a guard or other device to prevent access to moving parts, as prescribed by section 24 of Ontario Reg. 851, Industrial Establishments. This is contrary to section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act,” said the Ontario government.

What are the safety rules for using a surface grinder?

According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), the following are some of the basic safety principles that employes can share to workers who use surface grinders:

• Wear appropriate CSA-certified safety glasses and other required protective equipment (including CSA-certified footwear and CSA-certified hearing protection). In addition, use the eye shield on the grinder, when provided.
• Make sure that the grinder has a working emergency start/stop button (e-stop) within easy reach of the operator.
• Check the grinding wheel before mounting it. Make sure it is properly maintained and in good working order.
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions for mounting grinding wheels.
• Keep face of the wheel evenly dressed.
• Make sure that the wheel guard covers at least one half of the grinding wheel.
• File off any burrs on the surface of work that is placed on the magnetic chuck.
• Clean the magnetic chuck with a cloth and then wipe with the palm of your hand.
• Place a piece of paper slightly larger than workpiece in the centre of chuck.
• Position work on the paper and turn on the power to the magnetic chuck.
• Check that the magnetic chuck has been turned on by trying to remove work from the chuck.
• Check that the wheel clears the work before starting the grinder.
• Run a new grinding wheel for about one minute before engaging the wheel into the work.
• Wait for the wheel to reach maximum speed before using it as there may be unseen faults in the wheel.
• Stand to one side of the wheel before starting the grinder.
• Turn off coolant before stopping the wheel to avoid creating an out-of-balance condition.
• Keep the working surface clear of scraps, tools and materials.
• Keep the floor around the grinder clean and free of oil and grease.
• Use an appropriate ventilation exhaust system to reduce inhalation of dusts, debris, and coolant mists. Exhaust systems must be designed and maintained appropriately.
• Follow lockout procedures when performing maintenance work.