Triple M Metal Corp. Fined $75,000 After Injury

Brampton, ON - Triple M Metal Corp., a Brampton company that recycles metal, was fined $75,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a visitor to its scrap yard was injured.

On August 28, 2008, a scrap dealer drove into the company's Brampton scrap yard to sell a manually operated lifting device as scrap metal. The device had tipped in transport so the scrap dealer asked for help removing it from the truck. A Triple M worker tried to use a lift truck to stabilize the device and remove it from the truck. During this process the device tipped over and pinned the scrap dealer, injuring the dealer's leg, hand and rib.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the device to be lifted required specific lifting instructions that were not provided to the lift truck operator before the attempt to move it. The method of stabilizing the device was inadequate and no precautions were taken to ensure that lifting the device would not endanger any worker.

Triple M Metal Corp. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the manually operated lifting device was lifted in a way that would not endanger any worker.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Jerome Redmond.  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

                                    5 Ray Lawson Blvd.

                                    Brampton, ON

Judge:                         Justice of the Peace Jerome Redmond

Date of Sentencing:    June 14, 2011

Defendants:                 Triple M Metal Corp.

Matter:                        Occupational Health and Safety

Conviction:                 Ontario Regulation 851, Section 45(a)

Crown Counsel:          Katherine Ballweg

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