Released on September 6, 2017
A Regina company has pleaded guilty to one occupational health and safety violation. Aallcann Wood Suppliers Incorporated was fined $40,000 in Prince Albert Provincial Court on August 25, 2017.The company pleaded guilty to contravening subsection 139(1) of the regulations (being an employer, failed to ensure that before a worker undertakes the maintenance, repair, test or adjustment of a machine, the machine is locked out and remains locked out during that activity if not doing so would put the worker at risk, resulting in a serious injury to a worker).
The company was fined $28,571.43 plus a $11,428.57 surcharge. Three additional charges were stayed in court.
Charges stemmed from an incident that took place on October 29, 2015, near Prince Albert. A worker was removing debris from a wood peeler and had several fingers severed when coming into contact with the rotating teeth.
The hand is the most commonly injured body part according to WorkSafe Saskatchewan. Identifying hazards and developing safety measures is the best way to prevent injuries. Common hand hazards include chains, gears, rollers, wheels, transmission belts, spiked or jagged tools, cutting tools, or processes that involve shearing, chopping or crushing.
For more information about injury prevention, visit www.worksafesask.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Jennifer Veri
Labour Relations and Workplace Safety
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1331
Email: jennifer.veri@gov.sk.ca