Improper lifting of a load causes accident
30/06/2009

June 30, 2009 3:50 PM

Sarnia, Ont. - A Sarnia machine shop specializing in large repairs, was fined $65,000 on May 14, 2009, for a violation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) after a worker was seriously injured.

On January 17, 2008, two workers were disassembling a harmonic engine balancer consisting of three rings on a centre core.  The engine balancer was suspended from its core by an overhead crane, and some bolts had already been removed.  The workers were under the raised load and one worker was removing another bolt when the top and middle rings slid away from the core and onto the worker's arm, severely crushing it against the bottom ring and a piece of lumber.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the engine balancer had not been secured or blocked after it was raised.

The company failed to ensure the engine balancer was securely and solidly blocked while elevated to prevent it from falling on the worker.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Marsha L. Miskokomon.  In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge on the total, as required by the Provincial Offences Act.  The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

AIST
01/09/2009

Overheadcraneconsultants.com is a member of AIST - Association for Iron & Steel Technology.

Workplace fall protection blitz
28/10/2009

Fine imposed
06/08/2010

Arcelormittal Dofasco Inc. Fined $100,000 After Worker Injured

August 6, 2010

Hamilton, Ont. - Arcelormittal Dofasco Inc., a Hamilton-based company, was fined $100,000 on July 28, 2010, for violating the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured.

On January 13, 2009, a worker employed by Arcelormittal Dofasco Inc. at 1330 Burlington Street East in Hamilton was helping other workers to change a crane hook block. The crane was located 23 metres (75 feet) above the floor, and the worker was wearing a fall arrest harness and lanyard. The worker was watching the crane's wire rope as it passed through the old block to be spooled on a drum. The worker's lanyard was caught by the crane's motor drive shaft, pulling the worker into the motor and causing serious injuries.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the crane's motor drive shaft was not protected by a guard to prevent a worker from having access to the rotating shaft.

Arcelormittal Dofasco Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that a machine that has moving parts that may endanger a worker is equipped with a guard or other device which prevents access to the moving parts.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Frank Squires. In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.