Morrisburg, Ont. - Jackson Builders Supply Limited, an Iroquois manufacturer of wood pallets and containers, was fined $55,000 on September 28, 2009, for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) after a worker was critically injured.

On February 5, 2008, two workers were on the facility's recycling line, examining pallets for damage and making repairs.  They were standing in the output area of a pallet turner, a hydraulically driven machine that turns over pallets for further repair.  A chain on the pallet turner came loose, and the machine was shut down with a pallet left inside.  This pallet had a hammer on it.  When the chain was put back on, and the machine restarted, the pallet inside was rotated and the hammer fell on the floor.  One worker told the other about the fallen hammer. The second worker, erroneously believing that the first worker had activated the machine's emergency stop, reached between its steel tubing and its rotating leg to retrieve the hammer.  The machine detected an incoming pallet and cycled, causing the worker's arm to be crushed between the leg and frame of the pallet turner.

Jackson Builders Supply Limited pleaded guilty under the OHSA to failing to ensure that the pallet turner was guarded to prevent access to its pinch points.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Louise Rozon. 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

                                    6 Fifth St. W.

                                    Morrisburg, ON

Judge:                        

Justice of the Peace Louise Rozon

Date of Conviction:

September 28, 2009

Defendants:

Jackson Builders Supply Limited

Matter:

Occupational Health and Safety

Conviction:

Ontario Regulation 851, Section 25

Crown Counsel:

Daniel Kleiman