KD Farm Services Fined $80,000 After Worker Killed
Ministry of Labour
Stratford, ON - 1126449 Ontario Inc., operating as KD Farm Services, was fined $80,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was killed.
On October 22, 2009, several workers from the company were catching and crating chickens at a farm in the Municipality of West Perth. As the workers loaded the crates from the barn onto a trailer, the trailer was moved forward to allow room for more crates. At one point after the trailer had been moved, a worker was found crushed to death under its rear wheels.
A Ministry of Labour investigation revealed that the supervisor moving the trailer did not have a driver's license or the required commercial vehicle license.
1126449 Ontario Inc., operating as KD Farm Services, was convicted of failing to take the reasonable precaution of ensuring that the operator of the moving vehicle was competent and/or properly licensed.
The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Thomas Stinson. 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
100 St. Patrick St.
Stratford, ON
Judge: Justice of the Peace Thomas Stinson
Date of Sentencing: October 11, 2011
Defendant: 1126449 Ontario Inc., operating as KD Farm Services
Matter: Occupational Health and Safety
Conviction: Occupational Health and Safety Act, Section 25(2)(h)