Worker was ran over by charging cattle
Ontario employer Peel Meat Packers Ltd. was fined $60,000 after one of its workers was critically injured by a male cattle in the workplace.
Following a guilty plea in the Ontario Court of Justice in Guelph, the employer was also tasked to pay a 25 per cent victim fine surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act, to be credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
The incident happened on June 14, 2022, when the employer – which operates a holding barn facility where farmers deliver livestock – assigned the worker to greet a farmer. The farmer was delivering a steer – or male cattle – to the holding barn. The worker also needed to complete the necessary paperwork.
When the farmer opened the back of their trailer, the steer came charging out. The farmer quickly stepped back into the livestock aisle, pulling the livestock gate closed, cutting off the steer’s access to the livestock aisle.
The animal then ran down the human aisle. However, the self-closing gate on the human side of the aisle had a broken spring and was not working.
The worker was still standing in the human aisle and was critically injured by the charging steer.
Previously, British Columbia employer The Blue Goose Cattle Company Ltd. was fined CAD 26,813.12 for health and safety violations with its use of a tractor in its Ashcroft worksite.
“The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires that an employer ensure that equipment, materials and protective devices provided by them are maintained in good condition,” said the Ontario government regarding the incident at Peel. “By failing to ensure the gate on human side of the aisle was maintained in good condition, Peel Meat Packers Ltd. violated section 25(1)(b) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.”
Following the investigation by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Peel Meat Packers has implemented several health and safety measures, including changes to limit workers’ interaction with animals, according to the government.
When it comes to animals in the workplace, dogs pose safety concerns for letter carriers, according to a previous report.
