'You are just a number… You can be replaced tomorrow.'
Workers should have their own safety as the top priority in the workplace, according to the wife of one worker who died in an Ontario workplace nearly three years ago.
To employers, "you are just a number," said Michelle Tremblay-Mills – wife of Darrell Mills, who died in the workplace in 2022.
Recently, Saturn Tool & Die (Windsor) Inc. – which designs and builds stamping dies for the automotive industry – was fined $180,000 following the fatal injury to Mills.
The incident happened at the company’s facility at 5175 Hennin Drive, Oldcastle, Ont. on March 28, 2022.
On that day, Mills – a maintenance worker – was called to troubleshoot a quality control problem with an Eagle 2,750-ton stamping press.
The worker entered the press through its light curtain, which caused the press to stop operating. However, the worker did not lock out the machine by putting its ram blocks into place and plugging in the electronic lock-out plugs.
Unaware that the maintenance worker was inside, another returned to the press, reset the light curtains and cycled the press. Mills was fatally injured in the process.
To this day, however, Michelle hasn't even received a phone call of condolence from the company, she said, according to a CBC report.
"You can be replaced tomorrow," she said. "So always put your safety first."
Michelle also recalled that on the day of her husband’s death, she got a call from Saturn Tool & Die informing her that her husband got into an accident and that he was on his way to a hospital.
She was not made aware of the gravity of the situation, and she was only told about what happened when she was taken into a room at the hospital, according to the CBC report.
"He passed away, and immediately we found out it was at work, and it was in a press, and we just totally lost control," she said.
"There's no describing that feeling. I wouldn't wish it on anybody."
Michelle also criticized the $180,000 fine imposed on Saturn Tool & Die, saying it’s such a small amount for a human life.
She also noted that she would not get any part of that amount. Currently, she is living paycheck to paycheck trying to hold onto her home, which is in need of repairs she can't afford, she said, according to the report.
CBC said it reached out to the employer but did not get a response.
