Vaughan company fined $50K for worker’s critical injury
The Province of Ontario has levied a fine of $50,000 against a company based out of Vaughan for its role in an accident that led to critical injuries to a worker.
Northern Transformer Corporation, which manufactures electrical transformers, entered a guilty plea in response to charges in provincial offenses court. The company will pay the fine and a 25-percent victim surcharge.
The incident occurred in May 2019 at the company’s manufacturing facility in Maple, Ontario.
Two workers were assigned the task of repairing and moving an electrical transformer. The transformer was rigged with four slings attached to designated attachment points and was suspended from a single hook to an overhead rail crane.
While being moved, the transformer began to suddenly swing.
The worker attempted to stop the uncontrolled motion without using the guide ropes and was caught between the transformer being moved and a transformer being stored. The worker suffered critical injuries as a result.
An investigation by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development found that Northern Transformer had failed to ensure that one or more guide ropes was used to prevent uncontrolled motion while the overhead crane was utilized.
The failure was Ontario Regulation 851 in the Occupational Health and Safety Act.