Guelph, Ont. manufacturer fined $56,250
Skyjack, a manufacturer of elevated material handling equipment, has been fined a total of $56,250 for a critical injury at its workplace in Guelph, Ont. The court imposted a fined of $45,000 as well as a victim fine surcharge of $11,250.
On Aug. 22, 2018, a worker for Skyjack was removing a flange pin from the boom of a Skyjack boom truck. The worker was in a kneeling position on top of the cowling, which is the cover of the body of the truck and about seven feet above ground level.
The cowling is made of smooth fibreglass and slopes toward the boom, and is only 21 inches wide.
The worker was using pry bars to release the flange pin when the pin gave way, causing the worker to fall backwards off the cowling. The worker suffered critical injuries.
Skyjack as an employer neither provided a suitable and safe platform upon which the worker could carry out the work nor did it take other measures to protect the worker from the danger of falling.
The defendant did not take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances, contrary to section 25(2)(h) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Source: Ontario Ministry of Labour
