Canadian Occupational Safety

8 www.cos-mag.com Canadian Occupational Safety FINES & PENALTIES COMPANY FINED $175,000 FOR CONFINED SPACE FATALITY Sulzer Chemtech Canada is required to pay a total of $175,000 for a workplace fatality in Redwater, Alta. On April 27, 2016, a worker was entering a fractionation vessel to prepare for close-up after an inspection of a vessel. The interior of the vessel was under a nitrogen purge and the worker was using supplied air. Upon entry, the worker went into distress and was fatally injured. Sulzer Chemtech Canada pleaded guilty to section 12(d) of the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code, failure to ensure that equipment was operated in accordance with professional engineer or manufacturer's specifications. The company was fined $15,000 inclusive of the 15 per cent victim fine surcharge and placed on enhanced regulatory supervision (similar to corporate probation). In addition, it was ordered under OHS Act section 75 to pay $130,000 in favour of Energy Safety Canada (ESC) for the creation and delivery of a standardized confined space training program designed for front-line workers with an emphasis on hands-on practical exercises. Sulzer Chemtech Canada was also ordered to pay, under OHS Act section 75, $30,000 to fund a conference for industry stakeholders in which they will present and be involved as an organizer. ELEVATOR FATALITY RESULTS IN $200,000 IN FINES TO 2 COMPANIES Toronto-based Events at One King West and Toronto Standards Condominium Corporation (TSCC) No. 1703 have been fined $100,000 each for the death of a worker who was killed by a falling freight elevator door. The court also imposed a 25 per cent victim fine surcharge on both fines as required by the Provincial Offences Act. On Nov. 15, 2016, a worker employed by Events was assisting in the delivery and set-up of holiday decorations. He was killed by a blunt impact injury to his head when an unapproved replacement cord snapped, causing the upper portion of the elevator's outside door to unexpectedly fall. The Ontario Ministry of Labour determined that Events failed to ensure the freight elevator was maintained in good condition, contrary to section 25(1)(b) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. TSSC 1703 failed to comply with section 9(1) of Regulation 209/01 by permitting the elevator to be operated without ensuring the necessary repairs were made, rendering it unsafe. ONTARIO COMPANY CONVICTED FOR INCIDENT IN SASKATCHEWAN A Toronto-based company pleaded guilty to one count under Saskatchewan's Occupational Health and Safety regulations. Evraz Canada, which operates a steelmaking plant in Regina, pleaded guilty to contravening section 248 of the regulations: failing to provide and maintain a safe means of entrance to and exit from a place of employment and all work sites and work-related areas in or on a place of employment, resulting in a serious injury to a worker. The company was fined $71,429 plus a $28,571 surcharge, for a total of $100,000. Charges resulted from an incident that took place on Feb. 15, 2017 at the company's Regina facility. A worker ruptured his quadriceps tendon when stepping down into a pit. PUMP TRUCK EXPLODES WHILE MECHANIC UNDERNEATH Superior General Partner (formerly operating as Stittco Energy) has been fined $70,000. On May 24, 2016, a propane pump truck was parked overnight in a maintenance garage in Flin Flon, Man. During the evening, residual propane from the dispensing system of the pump truck unknowingly seeped into the garage. The following morning, a contracted mechanic was tasked with replacing faulty U-bolts. They crawled under the pump truck and lit an oxygen/ acetylene cutting torch which caused an immediate explosion, destroying the pump truck and the garage. The worker suffered serious injuries. Superior General Partner pleaded guilty to section 4(2)(d) of Manitoba's Workplace Safety and Health Act to the charge of failing to ensure that persons who were not in its service were not exposed to risks to their safety and health arising out of, or in connection with, activities in the workplace. WEST FRASER MILLS FINED $637,415 West Fraser Mills has been fined $637,415 by WorkSafeBC. This firm is the owner and prime contractor at a fibreboard plant in Quesnel, B.C. A worker from a subcontractor's firm was vacuuming ash from a hatch midway up a multi-cone hopper when compacted hot ash in the multi-cone broke free. The ash rushed out of the hatch onto the worker, causing serious injuries. WorkSafeBC's investigation determined that the prime contractor had not conducted an adequate assessment of the risks associated with accumulated hot ash. Safe work procedures had not been communicated to the subcontractor firm, and the subcontractor's workers had not been trained in the work task. As owner, West Fraser Mills failed to provide the information necessary to identify and control hazards to the health and safety of workers, a repeated violation. The firm also failed to instruct workers in safe work procedures and provide adequate personal protective equipment for work around extreme temperature sources. In addition, the firm failed to provide the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure workers' health and safety. SAFETY AND STYLE New Style, same trusted V-Gard® Brand. The V-Gard Cap-style Hard Hat now available with a MATTE finish. 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