Canadian Concrete Crushing Firm Fined For Safety Violations

A Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, concrete crushing company has been hit with more than $15,000 in penalties after being convicted of failing to ensure that equipment was properly safeguarded.

Custom Concrete Products Ltd., carrying on business as Lakehead Custom Crushing, pleaded guilty in provincial offences court to two Occupational Health and Safety Act charges.

Court heard that the charges, under OHSA mining regulations, were laid April 15, 2003 following an audit by the Ministry of Labour. Both counts relate to conditions at a workplace in Fraleigh township.

Specifically, the defendant failed to ensure that the exposed main drive, roller jaws and jaw wheel of the secondary crusher were fenced or guarded, and failed to ensure that the revolving keyed shaft on the secondary crusher was guarded to prevent inadvertent contact by a worker.

Justice of the peace Robert Michels imposed a fine of $7,500 for the first offense and $5,000 for the second. A 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge also applies.

The company was given two years to pay the fines.

There was never an injury to a worker, the Labour ministry noted. Thunder Bay Chronicle