MASSIVE FINE SENDS STRONG MESSAGE

June 21 2010

The information below was recently posted on the MOL website. We believe it sends a clear and strong message that fines are increasing, and will continue to rise to new levels. With the victims surcharge (25%) added to the fines here, the total fine surpasses one million dollars in total. It is worth noting that the investigations found policy and procedural issues at fault here. Establishing clear policy and implementing these standards will continue to be a key to defending actions in the future.

Auto Manufacturer Fined $850,000 after Workers Killed Ford Motor Company of Canada Limited was fined $850,000 recently for violations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) after two workers were killed in separate incidents. On January 31, 2008, a worker was fatally injured at Ford's Oakville assembly plant after being crushed between two forklifts. The worker was standing beside a forklift when a co-worker reversed another forklift into the worker. A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the forklift operator did not keep a clear view of the vehicle's path of travel while reversing. On January 14, 2009, a worker driving a lift truck carrying an unsecured pallet was killed at Ford's Bramalea parts distribution centre. While the worker was driving the lift truck down a narrow aisle, the pallet struck a storage rack. The worker was crushed between the pallet and the vehicle. A Ministry of Labour investigation found that Ford's material movement policies and procedures were not adequate.