|
HEARST, ON, March 27 - Columbia Forest Products Ltd., a
Portland, Oregon-based manufacturer of hardwood plywood and
hardwood veneer, with a lumber mill that produces plywood and
particle board in Hearst, was fined $125,000 today for a
violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that
resulted in serious hand injuries to an employee.
On July 5, 2005, a worker was attempting to straighten a
crooked board in a plywood press when two other workers,
including a shift foreman, initiated the press cycle. The
press closed on the first worker's hand resulting in two of
the fingers having to be amputated. The incident occurred at
the company's particle board mill at 220 Prince Street in
Hearst.
A Ministry of Labour investigation found the outfeed end of
the press, where the first worker was working, did not have a
guarding device to prevent access to the moving press plates.
Columbia Forest Products Ltd. pleaded guilty, as an employer,
to failing to ensure the press was equipped with, and guarded
by, a guard or other device that prevents access to the moving
parts, as required by Section 24 of the Regulations for
Industrial Establishments. This was contrary to Section
25(1)(c) of the act.
The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Jean-Marie Blier
of the Ontario Court of Justice in Hearst. In addition, the
court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required
by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a
special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
Source:
http://ogov.newswire.ca/ontario/GPOE/2007/03/27/c7214.html?lmatch=&lang=_e.html
Click here to see a list of Fines for Health &
Safety Violations.
|