Worker was crushed by 1,100-pound granite slab while trying to secure it to a forklift
In a tragic incident that underscores the critical importance of workplace safety measures, GTA Granite and Marble Countertops Inc. was fined $100,000 following a fatal accident that preceded the closure of the company.
The Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto imposed the fine after the company pled guilty to charges related to the accident. The court also applied a 25 percent victim fine surcharge, as mandated by the Provincial Offences Act, with the proceeds earmarked to support crime victims.
The accident happened on October 8, 2021, at the company's workplace in Toronto. A worker was crushed by a massive slab of granite that tipped over during its removal from a storage rack.
The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development found the company had failed to ensure the safe removal of the stone slab.
The task at hand involved retrieving a 1,100-pound granite slab stored on a wooden A-frame rack, containing four similar slabs. A forklift equipped with a boom attachment and a suspended slab gripper was required for this operation.
The worker and a company director were involved in the process. Initially, they positioned the slab gripper to lift the granite slab with the forklift. Wooden 2x4s were used to create a gap between the desired slab and the one beneath it. As the worker attempted to secure the slab gripper onto the stone slab, the granite unexpectedly tipped forward, falling on the worker.
The incident directly violated Section 45(c) of Ontario Regulation 851, which stipulates that materials, articles, or things to be removed from a storage area, pile, or rack must be handled in a manner that does not endanger the safety of any worker. Furthermore, the company failed as an employer to ensure that these safety measures and procedures were followed in the workplace, contravening section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The court's decision serves as a stark reminder to health and safety professionals about the vital importance of robust safety protocols and training programs within workplaces that involve the handling of heavy materials. Ensuring the proper removal of materials from storage areas, piles, or racks is not only a legal requirement but a moral obligation to protect the well-being of workers.
The closure of GTA Granite and Marble Countertops Inc. serves as a somber testament to the consequences of negligence in workplace safety.
