Worker caught between two pieces of equipment
One worker was hurt after being caught between two pieces of equipment in Nova Scotia, according to a report.
The province’s Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration confirmed this week that the workplace injury that happened on Trunk 3 between Liverpool and White Point on Nov. 14, according to a report from LighthouseNOW Progress Bulletin.
Emergency responders, including volunteer firefighters out of Liverpool, were dispatched to the incident.
“The employee was transported to Queens General Hospital and was released the next morning with minor injuries,” Khalehla Perrault, a spokeswoman for the labour department, said in an email to LighthouseNOW.
The labour department completed an inspection “and no violations of the OHS (Occupational Health and Safety) Act were noted,” said Perrault.
The matter is now closed and because of privacy issues no further details would be provided, she said, according to the report.
Previously, Ontario employer St. Marys Cement Inc. (Canada) was also fined $165,000 after one of its workers suffered a critical injury while conducting testing on equipment in the Finish Mill at 400 Bowmanville Avenue, Bowmanville, where a fine cement powder is produced.
Another Ontario employer, Northern Transformer Corporation, was fined $50,000 after one of its workers was caught between two transformers, causing critical injury.
Machine guarding
Moving machine parts have the potential to cause severe injuries such as crushed fingers or hands, amputations, burns, or blindness, according to Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS). This shows the importance of machine guarding, it said.
“Machine guarding / safeguarding measures, at or around a machine, are essential to protect workers from coming into contact with hazards. A machine part that may cause injury must be safeguarded,” according to WSPS. “Machine guarding / safeguarding measures for machines provided by the manufacturer or the owner should not be removed or made ineffective (bypassed).”
WSPS noted the importance of having a machine guarding / safeguarding and lockout program to help ensure that all energies are properly locked out, and remain locked out until the work is completed.
“This will not only protect the well being of your employees, but also minimize any impact on your company's production, morale and viability,” it said.
And workers must abide by their employer's lockout procedure.
Previously, Shaw Group Ltd. was fined a record $150,000 for the death of one worker. An investigation by the labour department found that although Shaw Brick had a lockout procedure in place and Hines had received training, it was not followed by the three employees working on the feeder blockage.
