Firm fined after worker hurt in chip screener in Englehart

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO MINISTRY OF LABOUR

******************** Wabi Development Corp. fined $50,000 for health and safety violation

NORTH BAY, ON, Dec. 2 - Wabi Development Corp., a general construction and maintenance company based in New Liskeard, Ont., was fined $50,000 today for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that resulted in injuries to an employee.

On February 19, 2002, a worker was inside a "screener" (equipment used to separate larger wood chips from smaller particles of wood) and was helping check for defects when the worker fell about 6.7 metres (22 feet) down a vertical shaft.

The worker landed at the bottom of the shaft on a "rake conveyor belt" (a conveyor belt that uses rake-like equipment to move particles from one location to another), and suffered leg and ankle injuries.

A Ministry of Labour investigation determined the worker was not wearing any fall arrest equipment.

The incident occurred at an Oriented Strand Board (OSB) plant operated by Grant Forest Products Inc. in the Town of Englehart, which is midway between Timmins and North Bay.

Grant Forest Products Inc. had hired Wabi Development Corp. to inspect and maintain equipment at the plant. Following a trial, Wabi Development Corp. was found guilty of failing to ensure a worker, who was exposed to a hazard of falling more than three metres, wore adequate fall arrest protection.

This was contrary to Section 25(1)(c) of the act. The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Gilles Lecouteur of the Ontario Court of Justice in North Bay. In addition, 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.

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