Ryder Material Handling ULC pleaded guilty to one charge
Ryder Material Handling ULC has been fined $60,000 after a worker was burned by battery acid at one of its trucking companies, Crown Lift Trucks.
The incident happened in Toronto in June 2021 while the worker was replacing battery cells on a forklift. Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development says the worker was “used the oxygen of an oxyacetylene torch to release the hydrogen gas from three battery cells,” a process known as off-gassing.
“While using the welding torch to melt a lead stick onto an inter-cell connector post that connects adjacent cells in a battery, a chemical reaction occurred resulting in the sulfuric acid from a battery cell coming into contact with the worker.”
The company pleaded guilty, admitting it failed to “to acquaint a worker with any hazard in the handling and use of a device or equipment contrary to s. 25(2)(d) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.”
The court also imposed a 25 percent victim surcharge which is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
