Workplace Deaths Cost Automaker More than $1 Million in Fines
Two preventable accidents that took the lives of two workers will cost Ford Canada more than $1 million for violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The first accident occurred January 31, 2008, at the company’s Oakville assembly plant, when a 20-year veteran worker at the plant was crushed between two forklifts, and died as a result of their injuries. A Ministry of Labour investigation revealed the vehicle operator did not keep a clear view of the forklift’s path of travel.
Just about a year later, on January 14, 2009, another tragic accident occurred when a worker with 12 years experience at Ford’s parts distribution centre in Bramalea drove a lift truck carrying a pallet which wasn’t secured properly. As the worker drove the truck down a narrow aisle, the pallet struck a storage rack and the worker was crushed between the pallet and the vehicle. In that incident, Ministry of Labour investigators found that Ford’s material movement policies and procedures were inadequate.
According to company officials, the death at the Oakville plant was the first involving a Ford employee in nearly 30 years, while the fatality at the Bramalea facility was the first in the operation’s history. As a result of these accidents, Ford no longer uses the multi pallet platform that it used in the second accident.
Ontario Justice of the Peace Jerry Woloschuk levied penalties of $850,000 and imposed the legally required 25% additional victim surcharges of $212,500 against Ford after the company pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to take all reasonable precautions in the circumstances to protect the safety of the workers.
Tags: injury, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act compliance, Safety, workplace fatality, workplace safety
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