Rol-land Farms Limited Fined $60,000 After Worker Injured

Burlington, Ont. - Rol-land Farms Limited, a Blenheim-based mushroom grower and processor, was fined $60,000 on February 16 for a violation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) after a worker was injured.

On September 23, 2008, a worker at the company's processing facility in Campbellville was cleaning large nylon nets with a power washer while a machine wound them onto a spool. The worker held a net on the spool and started the machine with a portable controller. As the net coiled, the worker's hand became caught in a pinch point between the net and the spool, causing the worker to drop the controller. Unable to stop the machine, the worker called for help. A supervisor stopped the machine. The worker sustained several arm injuries.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the net washing machine was not equipped with a guard to prevent access to the pinch point.

Rol-land Farms Limited pleaded guilty under the OHSA of failing to take the reasonable precaution of preventing access to the pinch point to protect the worker.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Lina Mills. 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

                                    2051 Plains Road East, Courtroom 1

                                    Burlington, Ont.

Judge:                         Justice of the Peace Lina Mills

Date of Conviction:      February 16, 2010

Defendants:                 Rol-land Farms Limited

Matter:                        Occupational Health and Safety

Conviction:                 OHSA, Section 25(2)(h)

Crown Counsel:          Daniel Kleiman

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