Worker's thumb, finger amputated by machine
A crane company in Ajax, Ont., has been fined $50,000 after a worker’s thumb and finger were amputated by a machine.
On Sept. 19, 2008, a young worker at Gantrex Canada’s manufacturing plant was cutting strips of rubber using a shear machine. The machine jammed. The worker reached into the unguarded back of the machine to clear the jam. The shear activated and it amputated part of the worker’s thumb and finger.
Gantrex pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the shear machine was guarded to prevent the worker from accessing its blade.
The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Ronald Prestage. In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by Ontario’s Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
