Company fined for lost fingers incident

TORONTO—A metal fabricating company has been fined $60,000 after a worker lost fingers in an unguarded metal cutting machine.

According to the Ministry of Labour (MOL), Yarl Metal Fabrications Inc. pleaded guilty in relation to the April 23, 2014 incident. The company makes products such as metal cladding, windowsills, column covers and storefront panels for the building trade.

When the incident occurred, the shear machine was without the required guarding, reports the MOL, which had been removed the day before for a custom job. The machine is activated with a foot pedal.

While it was being used a piece of material got hung up on a corner of the machine. The worker moved one hand to wipe the material away and while the hand was in the hazard area the worker accidentally pressed down on the foot pedal, causing the shear on the machine to cycle. The worker suffered multiple amputations of fingers, the MOL states.

"The incident occurred because the equipment was not guarded in accordance with Section 24 of Ontario Regulation 851 — the Industrial Establishments Regulation — which states that ‘where a machine or prime mover or transmission equipment has an exposed moving part that may endanger the safety of any worker, the machine or prime mover or transmission equipment shall be equipped with and guarded by a guard or other device that prevents access to the moving part,’" reads a release.

The court found the defendant failed in its duty as an employer to ensure that the measures and procedures prescribed in the Occupational Health and Safety Act were carried out.