Company failed to maintain dump trailer that fell on another truck
A metal recycling company, operating under the Ontario license number 1929259, was fined $85,000 in connection with a workplace fatality because it failed to maintain a dump trailer in good condition.
The incident occurred on April 5, 2021, at a scrap metal yard in Brampton, Ontario. A driver employed by Global Metal Sources was asked by the yard workers to park the 45-foot dump trailer adjacent to another transport trailer that was already parked there.
Following the yard workers' instructions, the driver opened the back of the trailer and then returned to the cab to begin elevating the front of the dump box. Tragically, during the lifting process, the box fell to the side, landing on the adjacent truck's cab and fatally injuring its driver.
The company purchased the used dump trailer in December 2020 and had work done at an automotive repair center. However, the repairs solely focused on the trailer's road worthiness and did not address its dumping functionality.
The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development investigated the incident. Their findings revealed the bearings in the pivot joint mechanism, responsible for hydraulically lifting the trailer box, had not been inspected, lubricated, and maintained for an extended period. This lack of maintenance resulted in the catastrophic failure of the support shaft, causing the box to fall from the trailer.
As a consequence of their negligence, 1929259 Ontario Inc. was found to have violated Section 25(1)(b) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which requires employers to ensure that equipment is maintained in good condition.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proper vehicle and equipment maintenance and the role it plays in workplace safety.
