Company fined following rock-drilling accident in Marathon

NEWS RELEASE

MINISTRY OF LABOUR

******************************* Sigfusson Northern Ltd. fined $50,000 after worker injured

THUNDER BAY - Sigfusson Northern Ltd., a Kenora heavy construction company, was fined $50,000 on February 12 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) that caused an injury to a worker.

On September 14, 2008, workers were drilling and blasting rocks on the site for a new road in Marathon.

One of the workers started to change the drill bit on a rock drill while it was running.

The worker's arm got tangled in the drill.

A second worker tried pressing an emergency stop button on the drill, but it did not work.

A third worker used a control lever to stop the drill.

The first worker sustained a broken arm.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that none of the three emergency shut-off switches on the rock drill were functional.

Sigfusson Northern Ltd. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the rock drill was not used while it was defective or hazardous.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Bruce Leaman.

In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-percent 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.

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