Peering Inside Machine Costly

An Ontario company has been hit with a $100,000 fine for failing to lock out a machine that killed a worker in 2004.

An employee was peering inside a machine to view a fluid leak while working at Humberline Packaging’s manufacturing plant in Etobicoke. At this point, the machine was still in motion and began to cycle, causing the worker’s head to be struck by equipment. The worker suffered a fractured skull and brain injuries.

The company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the machine’s motion was stopped while being repaired or maintained. In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25 percent victim fine surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act.