Investigation found that the employer failed to ensure that there was a procedure in place to prevent material from injuring workers by tipping or falling
Brampton, Ont.-based company Lorik Tool & Automation Inc. was fined $50,000 plus a 25 per cent victim fine surcharge after two of its workers were injured when a heavy electrical panel fell over while being moved.
The incident happened on June 19, 2018, when a worker was moving a large electrical panel – which measured eight feet tall, 16 feet long and 18 inches wide, and weighed about 4,000 lbs – intending to load it onto a truck.
The panel was put on two-wheeled dollies, one at the front and one at the rear of the panel. However, the feet in the centre of the panel impeded movement, as the dollies were not tall enough to allow the feet to clear the floor.
The worker jacked up the bottom of the panel in an attempt to install wood studs on the dollies to raise the panel higher. While doing so, the panel tipped over and fell on the worker. As the panel tipped over, it also struck another nearby worker. Both suffered injuries.
The investigation by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development determined that there was no procedure for the movement of the panel onto the truck. In addition, the panel was not secured against tipping and falling.
Section 46 of the Regulation for Industrial Establishments prescribes that machinery, equipment or material that may tip or fall and endanger any worker shall be secured against tipping or falling.
Section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act states that an employer shall ensure that the measures and procedures prescribed by the act and regulations are complied with.
The defendant failed as an employer to ensure the measures and procedures prescribed by section 46 of the regulation were complied with, contrary to section 25(1)(c) of the act. This is an offence contrary to section 66(1) of the act.
