Apple Juice Producer Fined $75,000 After Worker Injured
March 17, 2010 11:30 AM
Owen Sound, Ont. - Clarksburg-based Golden Town Apple Products was fined $75,000 on March 12 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) after a worker was injured.
On May 9, 2008, a worker at the company's plant was flushing a production line with a sodium hydroxide solution. The worker carried a pail of the solution toward a tank to be cleaned. While lifting the pail to dump the solution into the tank, the worker's hand slipped, the pail swung forward and the solution splashed into the worker's eyes, causing permanent eye damage.
Golden Town Apple Products pleaded guilty under the OHSA of failing, as an employer, to ensure that the pail of sodium hydroxide solution was lifted, carried or moved in a way and with safeguards to protect the worker's safety.
The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Robert Gay. 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
Owen Sound, Ont.
Judge: Justice of the Peace Robert Gay
Date of Conviction: March 12, 2010
Defendants: Golden Town Apple Products
Matter: Occupational Health and Safety
Conviction: Ontario Regulation 851, Section 45(a)
Crown Counsel: David McCaskill
PDF Version - 70 KbContacts
- Matt Blajer
Communications Branch
416-326-7405
Ministry of Labour
ontario.ca/labour