An Ontario company was recently fined $250,000 and two of its
directors were each ordered to serve 25 days in jail as a result of
a workplace fatality.
Background
According to an Ontario Ministry of Labour press release, on
January 18, 2013, an employee of New Mex Canada Inc. (an Ontario
company) was using a combination forklift/operator-up platform that
had been modified to include an additional platform. The added
platform did not have a guardrail around it and the employee was
not wearing fall protection or safety shoes. The employee was found
dead on the floor beside the modified equipment and the cause of
death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head.
The Ministry of Labour investigation found multiple violations
under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (the
Act) and the regulation relating to industrial establishments (the
Regulation), including the absence of health and safety training
provided to the workers in the warehouse and
