Toronto, ON. – Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited, operating as Toronto Hydro, was fined $80,000 today for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that caused injuries to two workers.

On January 29, 2009, workers were cutting and splicing underground cables at Ossington Ave. and Dupont St. in Toronto. In an underground chamber at the site, a worker cut into a live high-voltage cable. This caused an electrical flash. The worker suffered first and second degree burns. Another worker in the chamber suffered flash burns.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the worker who cut the live cable thought it had been de-energized. The worker also thought the cable had been “speared” to confirm it was de-energized. Spearing is the final step before cutting and splicing a high-voltage underground cable. A spearing tool has a long, grounded blade that cuts through a cable’s conductors. If a cable is energized, spearing it will short out its conductors. On January 29, 2009, the live cable had not been speared before workers cut into it. This is contrary to Rule UG601(5) of the Toronto Hydro Rule Book.

Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited pleaded guilty to failing to take the reasonable precaution of complying with Rule UG601(5) of the Toronto Hydro Rule Book to prevent hazards to workers from energized electrical equipment, installations and conductors.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Tina Wassenaar. 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.

Whitby, ON. – Gantrex Canada Inc., a heavy-duty crane product manufacturer, was fined $50,000 on September 7, 2010, for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that caused an injury to a young worker.

On September 19, 2008, at the company’s Ajax manufacturing plant, a young worker was cutting strips of rubber using a shear machine. The machine jammed. The worker reached into the unguarded back of the machine to clear the jam. The shear activated and it amputated parts of the worker’s thumb and finger.

Gantrex Canada Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the shear machine was guarded to prevent the worker from accessing its blade.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Ronald Prestage. 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.

Hamilton, Ont. – 1637783 Ontario Ltd., carrying on business as Sunshine Grounds Care, was fined $12,000 on August 26 for a violation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured. The company was also fined $28,000 for obstructing a Ministry of Labour inspector who investigated the incident.

On June 16, 2008, a worker from the Oakville-based company was cutting grass in Hamilton. The worker was riding a lawn tractor that was not equipped with a roll-over protective structure. The worker was wearing a seatbelt. The tractor went over a bump, and thinking it would roll over, the worker released the seatbelt and jumped out of the vehicle. The tractor did not tip over but it did run over the worker’s foot.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the tractor’s manual prohibited the use of a seatbelt if the roll-over protective structure was not on the vehicle.

1637783 Ontario Ltd., carrying on business as Sunshine Grounds Care, pleaded guilty to failing to instruct the worker to not use a seatbelt while the roll-over protective structure was not attached to the tractor.

The investigation also found that the company owner told a worker to remove parts from the tractor before the Ministry of Labour inspector arrived to investigate the incident.

1637783 Ontario Ltd., carrying on business as Sunshine Grounds Care, pleaded guilty to hindering, molesting, obstructing or interfering with a ministry inspector.

The fines were imposed by Justice of the Peace Donald Dudar. In addition to the fines, 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.

Toronto, Ont. – Traugott Building Contractors Inc. a Cambridge-based company, was fined $80,000 on September 7, 2010, for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that caused an injury to a worker.

On May 26, 2008, a worker employed by Nelco Mechanical Limited, a sub-contractor hired to do mechanical and electrical work at a Walmart expansion project located in Scarborough, was attempting to remove a HVAC unit. The worker cut an electrical supply cable believing it was de-energized and received an electrical shock.

Traugott Building Contractors Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the power supply to electrical equipment was disconnected, locked out of service and tagged before work began.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Anthony Walton. 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.