Woodstock Stampings Inc. Fined $75,000 After Worker injured

Woodstock, ON - Woodstock Stampings Inc., a Woodstock manufacturer of metal stampings, was fined $75,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured.

On December 21, 2009, a worker was setting up a new die set for press in the company's Woodstock facility. The die did not have lower clamping feet to secure the lower die to the press bed, so the worker used a U-shaped clamp to secure it. When the press cycled during testing, the clamp was ejected from the press and struck the worker in the chest. A bone in the worker's chest was broken and the incident caused the worker to have a heart attack.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that it was unusual for the facility to use a die set without clamping feet and the company had no protocols in place for dealing with this type of die set.

Woodstock Stampings Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to develop and implement safe procedures for setting up a die set in a non-standard condition.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Gary McMahon.  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

                                    415 Hunter St.

                                    Woodstock, ON

Judge:                         Justice of the Peace Gary McMahon

Date of Sentencing:     April 6, 2011

Defendants:                 Woodstock Stampings Inc.

Matter:                        Occupational Health and Safety

Conviction:                 Occupational Health and Safety Act, Section 25(2)(h)

Crown Counsel:          Alexandra Bednar

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