Gantrex Canada Inc. Fined $50,000 After Worker Injured

Whitby, ON. - Gantrex Canada Inc., a heavy-duty crane product manufacturer, was fined $50,000 on September 7, 2010, for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that caused an injury to a young worker.

On September 19, 2008, at the company's Ajax manufacturing plant, a young worker was cutting strips of rubber using a shear machine. The machine jammed. The worker reached into the unguarded back of the machine to clear the jam. The shear activated and it amputated parts of the worker's thumb and finger.

Gantrex Canada Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the shear machine was guarded to prevent the worker from accessing its blade.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Ronald Prestage. 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

                                    605 Rossland Rd. E.

                                    Whitby, ON

Judge:                         Justice of the Peace Ronald Prestage

Date of Conviction:     September 7, 2010

Defendants:                 Gantrex Canada Inc.

Matter:                        Occupational Health and Safety

Conviction:                 Ontario Regulation 851/90, Section 25

Crown Counsel:         Mike Nicol

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