Brampton, Ont. - Liteline Management Company Limited, a Brampton distributor of lighting products, was fined $50,000 on September 4, 2009, for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) after a worker was injured.

On January 9, 2008, a worker was vacuum cleaning products and stacking them on a skid.  A skid of cardboard fell from a nearby industrial rack, striking the worker.  The worker, who was pushed into the cleaning machine, suffered fractures to the spine and shoulder, and was cut and bruised on the hand and leg.

The skid of cardboard had fallen from the top of a rack that was back-to-back with another rack.  A worker on the other side of the racks had been using a forklift to remove a skid behind the one that fell.  The forklift had dislodged the skid of cardboard, causing it to fall.  There were no safeguards in place to prevent material from falling into the work area.

Liteline pleaded guilty under the OHSA to failing to ensure that the skid was lifted, carried or moved in such a way and with such precautions and safeguards that it would not endanger the safety of any worker.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Jeannie Anand.  In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act.  The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

Court Information at a Glance

Location:                    Ontario Court of Justice

                                    5 Ray Lawson Blvd.

                                    Brampton, Ont.

Judge:                        

Justice of the Peace Jeannie Anand

Date of Sentencing:

September 4, 2009

Defendants:

Liteline Management Company Limited

Matter:                      

Occupational Health and Safety

Conviction:

Ontario Regulation 851, Section 45(a)

Crown Counsel:

Catherine Glaister