HEARST, ONT. — Construction contractor C. Villeneuve Construction Co. Ltd. of Hearst, Ont. is facing a $50,000 fine after a worker was injured at the company’s Driftwood quarry in 2023.
According to a ministry bulletin, on Sept, 12, 2023, a worker was cleaning up near the folding catwalk platform on the side of a screen box/shaker at the quarry. The screen box was locked-out and de-energized, but the feed conveyor that fed the screen box was not.
While trying to step over the moving conveyor, the worker suffered a critical injury.
A Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development investigation found the feed conveyor was not adequately guarded as workers had access to the drive pulley of the conveyor while on the catwalk.
As such the company failed to ensure adequate machine guarding contrary to section 196(3.1) of Regulation 854, Mines and Mining Plants. This is an offence pursuant to section 66(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Following a guilty plea in Provincial Offences Court, Cochrane, on Feb. 4, 2025, the company was fined by Justice of the Peace Estelle Thérese Bérubé.
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